Linda's story

"I saw an advert in the local paper at the end of last year looking for actors aged over 60 which I thought sounded interesting. I used to act semi-professionally but that was a long, long time ago. They invited me along to a workshop where I met the other HotPots. I did some improvisation with them and they asked if me if I wanted to get involved in their next production, Feeble Minds.

The production brought together HotPots with Spare Tyre's other theatre company, inc.Theatre, which are learning disabled adults. It was the first time the two companies had worked together.

I must admit I was quite daunted by that actually. I didn't really know what to expect. They came to where we rehearsed and then we visited their rehearsal space and I began to feel more relaxed about it.

I really enjoyed the improvisation that we did. With the production, there was a script produced in the end but the majority of the text were our words that we devised during rehearsals. It was very satisfying being involved in the production in that way. We all had a part in shaping the piece.

The play, which was inspired by Shakespeare's Timon of Athens, was quite topical in a way in that it talked about greed and lust and people wanting lots of money. I think it was quite educational as well because we had a range of actors with different disabilities – it showed that you can't put people in boxes.

Altogether we did ten performances in July – some at the Albany in Deptford and some at Rich Mix in East London. We had a fantastic set with great costumes.

I really, really enjoyed it – we had good audiences, the cast had a great time. To do ten performances is just fantastic – the performance grows during the run.

I'm a teacher and I had to take early retirement because of mental health problems so it had been quite a while since I'd really done anything quite so ambitious. But I really loved it. I feel like I've grown in confidence in a way. It's made me feel I perhaps could do other things. I'm definitely going to carry on as a HotPots members."

HotPots is a theatre ensemble comprising people aged 60 or over managed by theatre company Spare Tyre.  It is one of the programmes funded by London Councils to encourage older people to become involved in local activities. Spare Tyre run workshops to engage older people and adults with learning disabilities across London, using a range of artforms. Fashion workshops in Hounslow, storytelling in Islington, movement in Wandsworth and theatre in Camden to name but a few. Spare Tyre has also launched a new assisted employment programme for artists with learning disabilities: Go inc to work. Based in the borough of Redbridge, artists are supported by a project coordinator, artistic mentors, advocates, travel buddies and support workers to take steps towards employment in the arts.