Real People Theatre in collaboration with York Spoken Word hosted an "open mic" anchored by set pieces on the theme of how climate change is causing us to re-think our attitude to how we live on this planet.

"Bring your poetry, prose, songs, stories, hopes and fears to share or just come and listen.
Plenty of audience discussion ensured. All welcome." Directed by Rose Drew.

NO KIDDING?

ageing without children

through choice, circumstance, infertility, bereavement, estrangement or distance

www.awoc.org

No we're not kidding - we're giving a voice to the millions of older people who are ageing without the support of children - ageing at home alone...not knowing who to call when in sudden need of a helping hand. It's all part of the loneliness and isolation which is so prevalent in today's society. Ten scenarios are available to springboard discussion at conferences, board meetings, workplaces - a chance to get both head and heart engaged.

(created for York International Women's Week 2018)

AWOC York is a monthly group started in Jan. 2016 with speakers exploring what can be done to help older people to cope with and plan for a future on their own.

Sue Lister will be directing the 15th consecutive Real People Theatre production for York International Women's Week 8 - 15 March 2014. Anne Lister's diaries from the early 19th century reveal her intimate liaisons with other women. The Real People Theatre will be creating scenes from her times to the present day exploring how society's attitude to lesbian relationships has changed over the years. Helena Whitbread who decoded the diaries and has published 2 books will be sharing her knowledge with us and Jan Bridget will be facilitating audience discussion on the history and changing nature of women's relationships.

Using 3 statues of a mother and daughter responding as best they can:
on diagnosis
living with dementia
last stages in a care home
Sharing their inner thoughts and feelings at each stage and then inviting audience members to step into their shoes and share how they might respond.

"I'M X YEARS OLD - WHEN WILL IT BE SAFE TO COME OUT?"

Through life stories, poetry and audience discussion we look at why so many women hide part of themselves for fear of prejudice and social exclusion - it's as if they wear paper bags which mask the 'shameful' parts. Why is this necessary in today's society? What is so shameful about having mental health problems, being a lesbian, suffering from domestic violence, being prey to an addiction or having a hidden disability? When will it be safe to come out...?

This show was part of York International Women's Week and is available for booking from March 2012 onwards for workshops, peer empowerment, staff training, conferences, and events where discussion of these issues is a key factor. Let us know your needs and we will tailor a presentation to support your work - through life stories, poetry and forum theatre (see Encounters below).

HOMELESSNESS
A homeless older woman pauses to rest on a step in front of a souvenir shop. How do the passers by and the shop owner react?

CARE HOME CONCERNS
An ageing woman in a care home has motor neurone disease and wants help to die…but her partner, a woman, is dead. What are the prejudices she faces in order to have her wishes met?

SATURDAY 13 MARCH 2010

Drama Studio 2, York St John University, Lord Mayor's Walk,
York YO31 9EX

Workshops £5 each or £12 for all three. Book in advance 01904 488870

10.30 - 12.00

1 - 2.30

3.00 - 4.30

Pauline Kirk

Sue Lister

Rose Drew

Catching the Spark - finding inspiration

Bringing Poetry to Life - lifting words from the page

Poetry as Performance - presenting your poem

TUESDAY 10 MARCH 2009 7.30 pm

Drama Studio 2, York St John University, Lord Mayor's Walk, York YO31 9EX

Tickets on the door £5 (£4 concession) or phone 01904 488870

This was the Real People Theatre's 10th production for International Women's Week at York St John's - a milestone to be celebrated! For the 4th year we opened the door to poets and storytellers, singers and dancers, actors and comedians - all we asked was that wit, fun, humour and quirkiness took to the stage. And they did - thanks to Helen Burke, Carol Coiffait, Lizzi Linklater, Ann Murray, Paula St Aves, and Jannah Warlow. Sue Lister directed again and this time threw in a Spike Milligan monologue! A fine time had by all...

A QUESTION OF POWER is the title of a 3-year series of productions presented by the Real People Theatre Company in collaboration with women from different cultures and organisations.

The aim is to explore the nature of power, both personal and global, through the eyes of women for 3 consecutive International Women's Week celebrations.

Your participation is both welcome and vital to the success of the project.......!

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S WEEK

York St John College

Saturday 11 March 2006

Saturday 10 March 2007

COMBUSTION!

Saturday 8 March 2008 (see below)

Individual scenes from each production will be available for workshops & conferences throughout the following year.

Phone: Sue Lister 01904 488870

Programme for 2006

1. Hothouse, a one-act play by Clare Shaw, an allegory on global warming set in an ordinary office where it seems to be getting hotter and hotter (a Real People Theatre production)

2. Ring of Fire, a dance piece by the York St John student company, 103 Falling Birds

3. Lady Conversation, a video extract from Margaret Cavendish's "Lady Contemplation" introduced by Gweno Williams of the Centre for Excellence

4. Abigail Bailey - readings from the diary of an 18th Century New Hampshire farmer's wife with 14 children & an abusive husband

5. Poetry by American and Taiwanese women

6. Reluctant Departure, a story about the forced 'regeneration' of northern cities and the effect on elderly people who have lived there all their lives

7. Songs & Readings about an arranged marriage and the death of a beloved grandmother.

Programme for 2007

Christine Vogt-Williams lost her voice and couldn't sing for us but delivered her pieces with great aplomb. Rose Drew's memorable poems were performed with her usual flair and Tanya Parker presented powerful poems by herself and Pauline Kirk. We were treated to a dramatic story by Hannah Davies, a description of walking on fire by Ann Murray and Sandie Dennison came up from London to share her poetry with us. Margy Vernon introduced us to 5 Palestinian women and Sue slipped onto the stage at the end to present a poem by Andy Humphrey about the statue of Alison Lapper in Trafalgar Square.

COMBUSTION!

This year we aimed to IGNITE YOUR FIRE with salsa, song, drama, poetry, and storytelling. We experienced the highs and lows of being a woman in the current climate, facing the challenges of the 21st century at home and in the world - who are we and where are we going?!

SATURDAY 8 MARCH 2008, 2 pm and 7 pm

YORK ST JOHN COLLEGE, Drama Studio 2

Tickets £5 (£4 conc) on the door

The Programme for 2008 included a warm up with salsa, a monologue by a bag lady, the poetry of Pauline Kirk and Tanya Parker, songs from Track 29 women's choir, a dialogue between a feminist and a chauvinist, a dramatic monologue on domestic violence, the story of Skeleton Woman, a short story about a possible nuclear power leak, and a slide presentation + poem entitled Think Green First.

HOLDING THE GRANNY

by Deborah Catesby

Take a family of women including grandmothers, a mother and teenagers, add a quirky cat and a long-estranged aunt and watch the sparks fly!

A READERS' THEATRE production with audience discussion after the show.

SATURDAY 6 MARCH 2004

2 pm

York St John College Lord Mayor's Walk York

Tickets £4 (£3 conc) at the door or phone 01904 488870

Saturday 8 March 2003 2 - 4 pm

York St John College, Lord Mayors Walk, York

Turning points in women's lives

Fun and frolic, pride and passion

Audience participation in forum theatre

Tickets £4 (£3 concession) from Libertas or on the door

We devised forum theatre scenes for the Doncaster Women's Centre on domestic violence, and for the National Older Lesbian Conference in Leeds on jealousy.

THE EXTRAORDINARY LIVES OF ORDINARY WOMEN

Extraordinary Women looked at traditional roles and contrasted these with the possibility of breaking free and learning to become truly extraordinary. Scripted entirely by Yorkshire women in workshops held over the course of a year, and with a cast of 10 women from all over Yorkshire, several of whom had never been on stage before, the show explored: * what it is to be a women * lesbian identity * how women live and love * family relationships * fantasies and fears * joys and challenges * times of trauma and depression * what makes women laugh * what makes women angry * dealing with prejudice * what changes women would like to see in the future.

The performance on 10th March 2001was a special preview for International Women's Week. It was a work in progress and feedback was welcomed in the discussion period after the show.

IMMEDIATE FAMILY

BY TERRY BAUM

A play that made one lesbian, at least, totally visible. Despite 'the rules' and her lack of status in straight society, it was she who assumed power over life and death in the end. A poignant insight into our common humanity. From artichokes to Golden Eagles, through laughter and tears, the play moved to a powerful climax. Virginia found out what life and death have in common - love. There was a talkback session at the end of the show during the tour in 2000.

9 performances in Bradford, Halifax, Holmfirth, Rotherham and York