Open Clasp Theatre Company

Swags & Tails is set on the day Margaret Thatcher dies, against a backdrop of austerity and cuts. Meet Gloria, her past eroded during years living in dementia units, Mary, the care-worker getting it from all angles and housebound Lillian, locked in her own spare room with only 8 bottles of Sloe Gin for company. Faced with the closure of their day centre will Ellen and Marlene unite and make a last stand? There's more to life than a custard cream and a chocolate bourbon. 155 women worked with us to inform Swags & Tails, through Open Clasp's Generation XX project. The women involved live and work in care homes, care for loved ones, use day centres or are housebound. Using drama techniques each group created a character with their own story to tell. Swags & Tails is about the quality, or lack of quality, of care of older people and carers in our society. The groups who informed Swags & Tails are: Interface Project, Station Court Care Home (Ashington), Mature Friends (Bridge Women's Education & Support Centre), The Grange Centre, West Denton Day Centre, Team Spirit, Eighton Lodge, Cleveland View Care Home, Carers Centre (Newcastle), Culture & Heritage Group, Age UK North Tyneside, Members of the Home Delivery Service of Newcastle City Libraries, The Anand Women's group, Carers Cultural Adventures group

Some of the audience feedback we received when Swags &Tails, a play created in collaboration with older women, carers and care staff was performed at Live Theatre, Newcastle and Riverside Community Health Project, Newcastle during March 2012. A training DVD based on Swags & Tails will be available later this year. You can find out more about Swags & Tails and Open Clasp Theatre Company at www.openclasp.org.uk

Piece about Swags& Tails by Open Clasp Theatre Company on Look North. Swags & Tails was created in collaboration with 155 older women, carers and care staff and tours until the end of March 2012. Find out more at www.openclasp.org.uk