By Isle of Wight Observer
“We have conversations like ‘How do you take your tea in the morning?’ through to how love nowadays isn’t the same. It’s gorgeous,” said Maya, one of a group of students involved in a partnership project involving The Brit School and Mountbatten.
Mountbatten, the Island’s only hospice, which also provides community services and bereavement support, again joined forces with Croydon’s performing arts school.
The young performers spent three days meeting patients and staff, before turning their experiences into an original show. It was staged for free on Wednesday at the hospice.
One patient said: “I thought it went very well and I enjoyed what they did. They entertained me and that was lovely.”
“It was very entertaining,” said another. “I was singing.”
Maya explained: “We do applied theatre and this is something the Year 12s do every single year. It’s so rewarding. Often, the people we speak to have the most incredible life stories.
“I’m not a confident person. A year ago, I couldn’t go into a room and sit next to people and make conversation. Now I lead performing arts workshops for older people.”
The BRIT School provides education in performing arts and other media training. Assistant principal, Ray Oudkerk said:
“Bringing our students, aged 16 and 17, to hear the varied life stories in the hospice is a privilege.
“We hope it’s also a powerful, life-affirming experience for those using the hospice.”