SUZI Dougherty believes it's never too late to put someone in the spotlight and give them a chance to shine.
A regular cast member of television series Home & Away and founding member of the Bell Shakespeare Company, Suzi has made a huge impact across Sydney with her acting classes for seniors.
She has headed Sydney Council's drama program for over-55s for more than seven years, and runs the Kings Cross acting class for seniors that has proven so popular she has had to expand it.
Suzi has just started a class in Millers Point in addition to her already established class in Elizabeth Bay.
She decided to start teaching drama to seniors after a stint volunteering as a clown doctor.
"I realised there were a lot of seniors who were isolated and lonely in hospital and thought as an actor, how can I fix this?"
So she formed a partnership with Sydney Council and her Kings Cross class became a runaway success.
Class members range in age from their 60s to late 80s. Classes are highly interactive, with participants being given a monologue or something else dramatic to do in every class.
Suzi's Kings Cross class performed in the finals of this year's Short & Sweet festival and a number of class members have even secured themselves agents.
"I didn't realise they were going to be as successful as they were," Suzi said. "Over half of them have agents and get more work than me."
While the classes provide students with opportunities, Suzi said the most rewarding aspect was witnessing the relationships they fostered.
"As soon as you act in a scene with someone, you really carry that relationship on.
"When one of them gets sick, they have so much support."
Suzi, who also runs a play-reading class at WEA college, would like to hear from any seniors interested in joining a group.
Classes run on Tuesdays from 10am at The Reg Murphy Activity Centre, Elizabeth Bay (free), and from 1pm on Fridays at 15A Argyle Place, Millers Point ($5 per class).
- Elizabeth Bay (02) 8374-6310, Millers Point (02) 9244-3693.
