WELCOME TO OUR WORKSHOP

People over 55 are invited to join us as creators and resources.

We’re looking for these Volunteers.

• 8-12 community members age 55+ to become the core creative group, who would share their first-hand experience and knowledge of the issues. NO theatrical experience is required;
• 2-5 project assistants who are experienced in counselling and/or social services to support the participants during the workshop, and, later, the audience members;
• 2+ people to assist the lead artists in preparing and delivering the program.

To volunteer, please email

About the Project:

In a week-long workshop facilitated by Joan Chandler and david sereda, we will create dramatic scenes together to demonstrate moments of abuse. Then we, and our community, can play out alternative approaches that may change those situations of abuse and violence for the better. Performances are like a Rehearsal for Reality.

When: Monday, June 2 through Saturday, June 7, 2025
Where: Owen Sound, ON

About The Issues:

We’ll focus on abuses that older adults face. They may be physical, emotional, sexual, mental, financial, or neglect and abandonment. We may think these things don’t happen to older people. They do.
As with every situation of abuse, it’s hard to talk about, and it’s hard to admit. Someone might think, “I feel like I ought to know better by now.” However, these problems can happen at any age.

Issues of gender inequity, violence and control are based on harmful social norms, stereotypes, social expectations and power imbalances. Is it really “a feature of family and social life about which society has preferred to remain silent”? What do you think?

The Workshop:

We’ll create a story together based on the shared realities of the people in the group – all focused on the common desire to STOP gender-based violence among older adults.

We don’t start with a script. Our play will emerge as we improvise together and choose those things that truly tell the story. Our goal is to reveal problems.

The outcome will be a short interactive Forum Theatre piece. In Forum Theatre, we present the “problem play” to an audience – then we invite them to STOP the action whenever they see something going badly, and step into the scene to try a different action that might change the situation for the better. Afterwards, we talk about the change – did it work? We follow the show with a Q&A and discussion. In total, a show lasts about one hour.

Our four basic rules:
Be kind to yourself. Be kind to others. Be kind to the environment. Have fun! As a part of these rules, we all agree to maintain confidentiality.

To Get Involved:

Not everyone has to be an actor in the presentation. Other roles are: designers, promoters,
Workshop pre-registration is required.
production assistants, documentation, keeping notes...

To volunteer, please email
Include a letter indicating your interest and experience/qualifications, as well as your contact information. NO previous theatre experience is necessary.
Details about location and details will be sent to registrants.

Time Commitment: Workshops run from Monday, June 2 through Saturday, June 7, from 10am – 4pm daily including a lunch break (a commitment of 36 hours). There will be a presentation on Saturday. Future shows will be scheduled later on, with some in the fall.
Commitment is required for the entire week of the workshop.

Sheatre is a community-engaged professional arts company located in Grey-Bruce. We believe in the power of theatre and the arts to change lives and to contribute to a healthy, compassionate society. We’re experienced, and leaders in the field. For 39 years we have produced innovative creative arts workshops and interactive shows like this with community members in partnership with local organizations, schools and established programs. We have received multiple awards, including: the YMCA Peace Medal, Ontario Attorney General’s Victim Services Award of Distinction, City of Owen Sound Cultural Award and the Phil Hartman Arts & Humanitarian Award.

“It is clear that [the forum theatre play for youth, Far From the Heart] improves resiliency by equipping young people with improved knowledge of their community resources and increased understanding of gender-based violence and how to identify it in their community.”
A Report on Sheatre’s Far From the Heart, by the Students Commission of Canada (2019)

This project is funded by The Ontario Arts Council, Artists in Communities and Schools fund.
Partners and supporters include Grey Bruce Community Legal Aid, Grey Bruce Elder Abuse Prevention Network, South Bruce Grey Health Centre, M’Wikwedong Indigenous Friendship Centre, and Beaver Valley Outreach. We welcome others to join us in this initiative.