Our first creative ageing course sells out quickly
- second course to be announced soon!
Hobo Playhouse has designed an important program called Creative Ageing: Acting for Wellbeing to support older adults with their emotional wellbeing, confidence, and social connections.
Through gentle drama-based methods, including storytelling, imagination, improvisation and playful activities, participants will explore a range of themes in a small group setting. Themes include identity, connection, ageing, creativity, and resilience. Each session is designed to be safe, supportive and fun.
No acting experience is needed — just bring your curiosity and a willingness to play and have fun.
This warm, welcoming course runs over eight weeks at Muckleford Community Centre, near Castlemaine, from February 23 to April 13, 2026. Each session runs for 90 minutes. The total cost for all eight sessions is $100 full/$80 concession.
The course will be facilitated by Jeffrey Bryant Jones, who has more than 10 years’ experience as community educator (drama) and a wealth of experience as a director, actor and writer. Jeff is also a qualified Drama Therapist (AThR) with a Masters degree.
“My aim is to create a safe space where participants can explore their experiences, creativity, and make new connections while having fun along the way,” Jeff said.
Please note, this course has Sold Out. Another Creative Ageing: Acting for Wellbeing course will be announced soon!
Photo courtesy of Freepik.
'We know the power of theatre and performance.
To express. To reflect. To transform.
Theatre can be research. Theatre is creation. Theatre is engagement.
Theatre speaks in the language of metaphor but conveys an inner truth.'
- British Association of Dramatherapists
The Hobo's Artistic Director Jeffrey Bryant Jones is a retired newspaper editor with more than 35 years' experience in the industry. He has been acting since he was a teenager and teaching drama in Central Victoria for the past 10 years.
In December, 2025, Jeff was awarded a Master of Creative Arts Therapy degree, majoring in drama therapy, by the University of Melbourne after passing with first class honours.
He believes the degree will help him further explore and integrate his love of acting, teaching, storytelling and writing. His goal is to provide opportunities for people from marginalised communities to explore, create and perform their stories through Therapeutic Theatre.
Jeff is currently planning to facilitate a Therapeutic Theatre project called Becoming the Swan based on The Ugly Duckling for a small group of adults in Central Victoria in July-August 2026. Stay tuned.
Therapeutic Theatre provides a unique space for storytelling, healing, and personal empowerment. It aims to provide a safe space where participants can explore their emotions, experiences, and personal narratives to discover new awareness, build confidence and grow self-esteem. Often, participants gain a sense of mastery from completing the project, enhancing their self-efficacy.
Therapeutic Theatre uses drama therapy methods to assist participants to therapeutically develop a play based on an important issue or a key theme. The play is often co-created from scratch by a group of participants and a drama therapist who facilitates the project. Alternatively, the play can be based on a myth, legend or fairytale and developed to include an exploration of the lived experiences of participants. Roles are established with therapeutic goals in mind and the project always culminates in a public performance, which can be very empowering for the participants.
