Part of Me: Where Identity, Creative Ageing and Conventions of Dramatic Action Meet

Abstract

This practice-based piece explores Part of Me, a creative ageing approach developed within a residential care home in Antwerp, inspired by Dorothy Heathcote’s Mantle of the Expert and conventions of dramatic action. Moving beyond dominant ageist narratives that reduce residents to a single identity of dependency, the practice invites older adults to (re-)engage with meaningful roles–from their past or present–through one-to-one dramatic inquiry. Using embodied, sensory, and narrative techniques, participants represent and explore a personal role and different points of view, often uncovering new perspectives on their own (hi)stories. The research to which Part of Me is linked, aims to contribute to the field of creative ageing by proposing an adaptable, arts-based methodology that bridges artistic, educational, and care practices, with potential for integration into interprofessional training and broader healthcare settings.