4th Line Theatre Invites Local Seniors to Step Into the Spotlight

By Scott Arnold

A new program at 4th Line Theatre is giving local seniors a chance to explore acting, storytelling and performance in a relaxed, supportive setting.

4th Line Theatre is inviting local seniors aged 55 and older to take part in its new Seniors Theatre Program, beginning September 30th. (photo courtesy of 4th line theatre)

There’s no audition, no previous acting experience required and no pressure to commit to the entire program.

Instead, 4th Line Theatre is inviting people aged 55 and older to spend Wednesday mornings exploring what can happen when a group of people gets together to create, play and tell stories.

The new Seniors Theatre Program begins September 30th, with free weekly classes running from 9am to 11am.

Over the course of 20 weeks, participants will work with 4th Line Theatre founder Robert Winslow, Managing Artistic Director Kim Blackwell and guest instructors. The sessions will include improvisation, theatre games, storytelling and collaborative play, as well as movement, voice, singing, character creation and ensemble work.

Participants don't have to sign up for all 20 weeks, making the program an opportunity to try something new without having to make a long-term commitment.

The experience will eventually move from the classroom to the stage, with the program culminating in a final performance in March 2027. Friends and family will be encouraged to attend and celebrate the participants' achievements.

For Blackwell, however, the value of the program goes well beyond the final performance.

“In a rural community, opportunities for seniors to gather, create and feel meaningfully connected can make an enormous difference,” states Managing Artistic Director Kim Blackwell. “Seniors carry an extraordinary wealth of stories, knowledge and lived experience, and we want 4th Line to be a place where those stories are valued and where people continue to feel creative, connected and essential to their community.”

The program is supported by the Government of Ontario through the Seniors Community Grant Program, which helps local not-for-profit organizations deliver projects and resources aimed at helping older adults live independently, stay connected, avoid isolation and build stronger social connections.

4th Line Theatre is also emphasizing that the program is open to community members of all backgrounds.

For anyone interested in taking part, registration closes September 24th at 12pm.

To register or ask questions, contact Celine Gadoury at celine@4thlinetheatre.on.ca or 705-932-4505.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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Peterborough Theatre Guild in Search of Actors for New Canadian Play About Family and Dementia

By Scott Arnold

The Peterborough Theatre Guild is looking for actors for a new Canadian play exploring family, caregiving and the difficult realities of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Actors interested in joining the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s production of Instantaneous Blue can audition for one of several lead and supporting roles beginning September 28th (photo courtesy of Peterborough Theatre Guild)

Instantaneous Blue follows Edward and Sara, a couple pursuing creative careers as they become first-time parents, while Edward’s parents, Judith and Bob, begin struggling with signs of cognitive decline.

As the family navigates the changes, they encounter police officers, medical professionals, paramedics and support workers, while facing difficult decisions about caring for their aging parents.

The Theatre Guild is holding auditions on September 28th, September 30th and October 5th, with callbacks scheduled for October 7th. Auditions will involve cold readings from the play and some improvisation.

There are four lead roles, along with three supporting roles that involve actors playing multiple characters.

The Peterborough Theatre Guild will bring Instantaneous Blue to the stage in February and March 2027, with the new Canadian play exploring family, parenthood, caregiving and dementia (photo courtesy of peterborough theatre guild)

The lead roles are:

• Judith: A woman in her 60s to 80s who experiences cognitive decline that is eventually diagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease.

• Bob: A man in his 70s or older who wants to remain independent while dealing with his own decline.

• Edward: A man in his 30s to 40s balancing new parenthood, his career, his relationship and caring for his parents.

• Sara: A woman in her 25s to 35s who is transitioning to motherhood while supporting Edward and dealing with her own demands.

Supporting roles include a PSW who plays two characters, a gerontologist/paramedic who plays two characters, and an actor playing a police officer, paramedic and male care aide.

The Guild says the age and gender specifications apply to the characters and do not necessarily dictate the age or gender of the actors. It also encourages performers from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences to audition.

The production deals with mature themes, including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, family illness, strong language, sexual elements and depictions of conflict. Physical and emotional demands are part of the four lead roles. A certified Fight and Intimacy Director will work with the production team on scenes involving physical conflict and intimacy.

Rehearsals are expected to begin the week of October 25th, with rehearsals scheduled Sundays from 10am to 1pm and Mondays from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. There will be no rehearsals during the final two weeks of December, with rehearsals resuming January 4th.

Instantaneous Blue will run from February 26th to March 13th, 2027, at the Peterborough Theatre Guild, 364 Rogers Street.

Audition Details

• September 28th: 6:30pm to 9:30pm

• September 30th: 6:30pm to 9:30pm

• October 5th: 6:30pm to 9:30pm

• Callbacks: October 7th, 6:30pm to 9:30pm

• Location: Studio A, Peterborough Theatre Guild

Those interested in auditioning can book an audition spot and find additional character information through the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s audition page.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.