New play takes a frank, humorous and heartbreaking look at life behind the doors of a care home

A Gala Durham & Queen’s Hall Arts Centre co-production
Beyond Caring by Christina Castling
Direction by Jonluke McKie 

“Older people, they’re still people. Like you and me. Just a bit, well, baggier around the edges.”

Beyond Caring, a powerful new play by Christina Castling that takes a frank, humorous and heartbreaking look at life behind the doors of a care home, will be touring the North East of England this Autumn. Based on interviews with residents, relatives and staff, the play, co-produced by Gala Durham and Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, uncovers the reality of caring for others, looking after ourselves and getting older.

Audiences are being invited to meet Queenie, Elaine and Alex, resident, relative and carer at Cedar Point Care Home - a place where the corridors roar with laughter and ache with sadness and where outrageous antics mingle with tough conversations.

Care home resident Queenie, played by Judi Earl, is staging a protest because she wants to have a tab and can’t have one without being supervised. Elaine, whose mum is busy deciding whether she wants to go into a care home, will be played by Jacqueline Phillips, and Alex, a carer working in the care home, will be brought to life by Rosie Stancliffe.

As playwright, Christina Castling explains:
“In 2021, as part of the research and development phase of the play, I interviewed carers, residents and their relatives at care homes across the North East of England to better understand the reality of life working, living or supporting someone living in a care home. Alongside fascinating conversations with academics, social workers, and care home managers, the result is a play that shines a light on often hilarious and hard-hitting experiences and asks crucial questions about ageing, identity and adult care provision.”

Dr Clare Winter, Counselling Psychologist at Care Home Wellbeing Service, who shared her thoughts during the research and development of the play, said: “Covid19 tragically demonstrated how the needs of older people, their relatives and carers can be forgotten if not championed. It is vital for today’s society that older people’s stories are truly heard and valued. This is a timely and necessary project. I believe that Beyond Caring champions [our carers’] work, gives them an authentic voice and can be a real vehicle for reflection that is much needed.”

Beyond Caring has been made possible with funding from Gala Durham and Queen's Hall Arts Centre and with public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England as well as support from the North East and North Cumbria Staff Wellbeing Hub, Creative Darlington, Darlington Borough Council and Darlington Hippodrome. It has also been supported by the Derwent Valley Partnership, East Durham Rural Corridor Area Action Partnership and Mid Durham Area Action Partnership through the Neighbourhood Budgets of Councillors Watts Stelling, Chris Varty and Jonathan Elmer.

Beyond Caring plays at Live Theatre on Tue 31 Oct & Wed 1 Nov, to find out more and book tickets go to https://www.live.org.uk/whats-on/beyond-caring