Potential of senior theater to contribute to social participation of old people: Practice of experimental plays using an aerial display

Abstract

In recent years, theatrical activities involving old people have become popular, and are expected to have the effect of improving the physical, social, and mental conditions of old people. This study revealed the potential of senior theater as a means of compensating for the decline in physical function due to aging and resolving the generation gap between old and young people. An experimental play called “King Lear: Aging and Gender,” which introduced an aerial display to reduce the burden on elderly actors, was performed, and its impact on old people and intergenerational understanding was verified. As a result, we were able to confirm the effectiveness of the method as a means of encouraging social participation among old people.