Performances at the Grainger Market, Alley 3 Unit 106/107.

Open daily 10am to 4.30pm, daily performances 2pm to 2.30pm and 3.30pm to 4pm on:

Saturday 3 August 

Monday 5 August

Tuesday 6 August 

An older woman sits in her living room, alone.  She speaks to us about her day-to-day experience, an experience that a growing number of older people in our communities face.  Her living room is in The Grainger Market in Newcastle and what is normally hidden from view is open to public attention.

For eight months Sharon Bailey visited 15 older people who live by themselves, stuck in their homes for long periods of time. Travelling across Newcastle, Gateshead and East Durham she photographed and recorded conversations with them, spending hours talking and listening.
 
‘Home Alone’ brings these untold stories and images out of the houses and into busy public spaces.  The stories are important and they need to be told.  We all need to listen.  Our Social Care system is in crisis and things have to change.

The living room installation includes photographs made in people’s homes and diary excerpts and features a specially commissioned monologue, written by Catrina McHugh MBE.  It is inspired by Sharon Bailey’s ‘Home Alone’ diaries and uses many of the older people’s own words.  Theatre direction is by Laura Lindow and the performing actress is Barbara Heslop.

‘Home Alone’ has been funded through an Arts Council England award, Equal Arts and East Durham Creates and is supported by Newcastle City Council, Search, Elders Council Newcastle, East Durham Trust, Open Clasp Theatre Company and Grange Day Centre.

More information about Sharon Bailey and her work and the ‘Home Alone’ project can be found at https://www.sharonbailey.co.uk or by emailing sharonbailey8796@gmail.com