Prime Time

Prime Time is for community members 55+ who want to meet up with like-minded people, looking for creative opportunities and new experiences. 

With 3 terms throughout the year, the weekly sessions include acting, performance, script writing, directing and theatre technology and participants are offered opportunities to perform at showcase events.  

“We create an atmosphere that is relaxed and caring, allowing everyone the freedom to express themselves. We encourage participants to share, listen and participate in creative tasks to generate an uplifting experience where everyone has fun, develops friendships and feels free to be themselves.” - Prime Time member

“It’s a real treat every week” and “sometimes I laugh more in that two hours than I do all week. And that’s brilliant for your mental health, isn’t it?” 

“I thought I was going to be really nervous because I’m quite a shy, introverted person normally, but actually I just loved every minute.”  

Autumn 2026 Term Dates: 

First Half Term commences:  Thursday 24th September

BREAK W.C 26th October

Second Half Term Commences: Thursday 5th November

* Weekly sessions are held on Thursdays 1:30 – 3:30 pm at the Dukes. 

We have also recently started to host a Creative Coffee morning, which is free for residents in Morecambe and Heysham to attend.  These sessions offer similar opportunities to our Prime Time project, but with a more relaxed feel.  Want to try out creative activities whist having a chat and a cuppa?  These sessions run on the same dates as Prime Time and run 10:30 - 12:00pm.   

Contact primetime@dukeslancaster.org or 01524598508 for more details.

“In the relatively short time that Prime Time has existed the weekly sessions have become vitally important to the participants. Through their involvement they have learnt new skills, met new people, made new friends, been part of the Park Show company, created films (in front and behind the camera), tried Stand-up, improvisation, drunk lots of tea and eaten many cakes, taken every opportunity to put their glad-rags on and have a great time! Every session and gathering I have attended has been a joy. Both Charlie and Sally who work with the groups in Morecambe and Lancaster are amazing. This is what having a theatre in your community can do – make space and opportunity to value creativity and kindness. Long may Prime Time continue"

- CHRISTINE MACKIE ACTOR/WRITER & DUKES HONORARY PATRON 

Prime Time has been running since the start of 2023, supported by the National Lottery Community Fund.  During this time, we have become a best-practice example of a Creative Ageing project as recognised by the Arts Council England, have hosted a national Creative Ageing symposium.  We work closely in partnership with organisations, which include Lancaster University and Age UK and have developed an extensive network across the health and creative sectors and academia. 

Read the Evaluation Report 2023 - 2025 here

contact Charlie Brown, our Older People's Coordinator: