THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING

How many times does it take for people not to see you before you start feeling invisible?

How many times before you believe it too? On her 60th birthday Cathy should be celebrating but it rapidly goes downhill. “In the shop they didn’t see me. They saw a warm cardigan and sensible shoes woman. An insignificant woman.”

Age is something that creeps up on us. We generally don’t give it much thought, so it comes as a bit of a shock when we suddenly arrive at 60. The play evolved both as a response to writer/actor reaching 60 and to address a lack of challenging, non-stereotypical theatre roles for my age-range. I was coming face to face with a negative set of views around ageing and chose to address them creatively. In Western society we view young as ‘good’ and age as ‘bad’; the cosmetic industry and the media, two driving forces. Dwindling power in all its forms of course is a major issue, but ageing needs to be ‘reframed’ as simply another stage of life that we can manage positively. The Experience of Being is intended to encourage a wider debate about how we support and value an ageing population. It’s an antedote, a reaction, a ‘howl’ against the stereotype of what an ‘older’ person is capable of doing physically, mentally and emotionally. Let’s face it we are all ageing, so let’s prepare for it.

Reviews

‘Carol Moore has written a terrific script, it rolls along, at times really funny.the man in front of me was in stitches especially when Cathy goes along for a Brazilian waxing, very descriptive! There was also the pathos of a women losing confidence, feeling invisible and worthless.’ – Anne Hailes, Belfast Times

Cast

Carol Moore was co-founder and co-artistic director of Charabanc Theatre Company. An experienced actress, director and producer her recent performance credits include Can’t Forget About You (Lyric Theatre Belfast and Tron, Glasgow), Lally the Scut (Tinderbox Theatre Company, the MAC), Shrieking Sisters (NI Tour), Pentecost and Macbeth (Lyric Theatre, Belfast).

Dates & Venues

Sat February 1st 2020 – 8:00 pm
The Mall Arts Centre Youghal
Tickets at door

Sun February 2nd 2020 – 8:00 pm
The Palace Theatre, Fermoy
Tickets at door

Please note: tickets available on the door and doors open 30min before show start time.