Art brings plight of lonely elderly home alone to public's attention

Artist Sharon Bailey has visited people who live alone and seldom see anyone all week and made their stories public in a live performance in the centre of Newcastle.

Ms Bailey has visited 15 older people from Newcastle, Gateshead and Durham to hear about their experiences of living home alone and was keen to bring real stories about their lives to the public’s attention.

The artist's latest work sees actress Barbara Heslop delivering a scripted monologue in a pretend living room created by Sharon Bailey in an indoor market.

The very public living room features objects and personal photos from the people’s own homes. Home to hundreds of local traders and 114 shops, Newcastle’s indoor Grainger Market has cobblers, florists, jewellers, bakeries, butchers and now a ‘lonely’ pensioner living on site.

Shoppers can hear the actress deliver lines based on the artist’s interviews with lonely residents, which have been shaped into a monologue written by writer Catrina McHugh. Theatre direction was given by Laura Lindow.

'Our social care system is in crisis'

"I had the idea of an outdoor living room. It's hard-hitting, but I think it's really important because a lot of it is hidden behind closed doors", said Sharon Bailey.

"People are feeling forgotten, feeling under-valued, almost like they aren't part of the community any more - it's something we should all be aware of.

"I have many years of experience of working collaboratively with people of all ages to create work of quality. I work intimately with individuals, spending time in people’s houses, community centres, Care Homes, Day Centres and at hospital bedsides.

"I am passionate about telling the stories of those I work with, those living on the edges of our society."

The artist is keen to "bring these untold stories and images out of the houses and into busy public spaces".

"The stories are important and they need to be told. We all need to listen. Our Social Care system is in crisis and things have to change." The 'Home Alone' performances have been funded through an Arts Council England award.

Sharon Bailey’s 'Home Alone' performances take place at Newcastle's Grainger Market until Tuesday 6 August.