The Millennium Forum today announced two new corporate partnerships for its Act Your Age Drama Group performance of Last Orders.  Apex Housing and Choice Housing will now sponsor the local production which performs on the Millennium Forum stage on Wed 24th June as part of the theatre’s award-winning Access Programme.

Act Your Age Drama Group launched in 2024 and is an age friendly project aimed at older members of the community; it is a FREE monthly event that is delivered as part of the theatre’s award-winning Access Programme in partnership with Specsavers, AAA (Access to Arts for All), and the Halifax Foundation Grant.  Facilitated by Bernadette MacFarland, the project has workshopped an original theatrical piece throughout monthly classes.  Last Orders is the culmination of the group’s work throughout the project and gives participants the unique experience of showcasing their skills on the biggest stage in the north west.

Speaking on the new sponsorship, Cara McCartney, Development & Creative Engagement Manager, said:

As a registered charity, the Millennium Forum is committed to making theatre accessible to everyone in our community, and projects like Act Your Age are such an important part of that work. The project not only helps older participants build confidence and develop new skills, it also creates valuable social connections and helps tackle loneliness through creativity and shared experiences.

We are incredibly grateful to Apex Housing and Choice Housing for their support of Last Orders and for recognising the positive impact projects like this can have across our community. Their partnership allows us to continue creating meaningful opportunities for older people, while also giving participants the unique chance to perform on the Millennium Forum stage in front of family, friends and the wider public. It’s a great example of how local organisations can work together to support community wellbeing, inclusion and the arts.”

Warren Kerr, Good Relations Officer with Apex Housing added:

“Apex is delighted to support the Act Your Age Drama Group in bringing their production of ‘Last Orders’ to life. This production is a fantastic example of the positive impact that community-based arts can have, creating a shared space where people from different backgrounds can come together. Apex is proud to be part of an initiative that celebrates diversity, promotes good relations, and highlights the power of the arts in bringing people together.”

Mark Kent, Good Relations Officer at Choice Housing, also commented:

“Choice Housing is delighted to support initiatives that bring people together and create opportunities for connection, creativity and confidence building within our communities. Act Your Age is a fantastic example of how the arts can have a positive impact on wellbeing, particularly for older people, by encouraging social interaction and providing a welcoming space to learn new skills and share experiences.

We would like to congratulate everyone involved in Last Orders and wish the cast every success for what promises to be a brilliant evening of local talent and entertainment at the Millennium Forum.”

Last Orders, written by the Forum’s Act Your Age Drama Group and featuring all local talent, tells the story of Joe’s bar that is slowly dying on its feet.  The future looks bleak until possible salvation presents itself in the form of an unexpected hen night.  Could hen nights be the way forward for Joe or might this venture into the unknown prove to be too much for Joe and his regulars?

Last Orders, sponsored by Apex Housing and Choice Housing, performs at the Millennium Forum on Wed 24th June @ 8pm.  Tickets are just £5.00 and can be purchased from the Box Office (tel 71 264455 option 1) or online at millenniumforum.co.uk.