In our day and age, it is evident that most seniors are becoming more and more introverted. Their sluggishness and slothfulness are very noticeable. As a result of this behavior, these individuals become more self-contained and avoid social interactions. Possibly, sometimes, this is also due to the community’s constant refusal to integrate them into the social group. In order to reduce the destructive consequences of this situation (e.g. depression, loneliness, psychological damage), their involvement in theatre could be highly beneficial. The question is “how will they benefit?”; since the benefits of theatre are not immediately apparent.

First and foremost, theatre is a major form of communication. As Oscar Wilde once said: “I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.”. Directness in dialogue is something that sums up in a few words the democratic nature of this kind of art. Human manages, in this way, to shed his ego, if only for a moment, and give himself to something communal. Even if one does not participate as an actor in a theatrical event but as a spectator, reaps benefits such as interaction with the actors, understanding the social and modern messages of the play and relief from everyday stresses. Therefore, they consider themselves as an active community member.

Furthermore, theatre is a multimodal medium. It is not necessarily related to acting. It is an interplay of music, dance, movement, lighting, etc. The synergy of all the above along with acting contribute to give an aesthetically uniform effect to the spectator. It manages, in short, to emotionally stimulate the audience and provide a rush of imaginative meanings. A senior can, in this way, feel more creative and feel like a child again by shedding the barriers of their age.

Last but not least, theatre is a means of expressing people’s deepest feelings. Human’s need to express himself through art is timeless. A typical example is the coronavirus pandemic, where online rehearsals and performances were held in the midst of a crisis. There is no doubt that theatre is alive, each performance is a unique event. The spectator is awakened, reflected upon and has a different experience each time. It strengthens the moral and spiritual cultivation of the individual and sharpens his or her critical thinking about society. All the more so, when he/she participates in the event.

To recapitulate, seniors ought to be involved in theatre. One of the greatest dramatists of all time, also father of epic theatre, Bertolt Brecht said that “Theatre cannot change the world, but it can change the audience. If they want to, they can change the world.”. This quote sums up the power of theatre. It summarizes the ethical empowerment it provides to people. Consequently, should seniors get actively involved with it, they will be able to renew themselves as well as becoming active, cogitative citizens.