Oral History Theater for Young People: Old Wives’ Tales?

This paper presents findings from an oral history theater project, developed by older individuals, aimed at primary and secondary school students. A professional theater company in Hong Kong has completed a three-year initiative that recruited retired older adults as creative participants. The research employed a mixed-methods approach; usage audience questionnaires completed by students and qualitative analysis to examine how the performances facilitated and empowered both students and older participants through interviews and field observations. Utilizing data and document triangulation as the primary analysis method in this mixed-methods research, the project revealed that younger students responded very positively to the performances by older adults. In addition to empowering both students and elders, the author discusses how the performances contributed to the education of young people in two key areas: moral development and history education. Both aspects suggest an enhancement of intergenerational relationships and the mental well-being of both younger and older individuals.