Project: SWAP Senior Jubilee – Theatre & Creativity Program for Older Adults
Mississauga Players Theatre used their Matchmaker MicroGrant to produce another round of SWAP Jubilee, a creative theatre program designed for older adults. SWAP (Say it, Write it, Act it, and Perform it) saw 18 senior participants engage in weekly sessions guided by six paid Mississauga Players artists to learn storytelling, playwriting, acting, and performance. Through this collaborative process, participants transformed their own memories and perspectives into original theatrical pieces, using humour and storytelling to build confidence, form lasting friendships, and reduce social isolation.
The program culminated in a final bilingual (English and Spanish) public performance on June 13, 2026, at Maja Prentice Theatre, where three short plays were presented: Fue Sin Querer Queriendo, Too Many Women, and El Plan Imperfecto. Supported by seven volunteers, the showcase welcomed 157 attendees with family, friends, and supporters from Mississauga, Toronto, Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, and Milton. The event created meaningful intergenerational and cross-cultural connections, ending with a standing ovation from the crowd. Altogether, the project reinforced the need for spaces for older adults to discover their creativity.
“Programs like this make it possible for seniors to access meaningful artistic experiences that may not otherwise be available to them… We witnessed the power of the arts to bring people together across generations, cultures, and backgrounds. We are grateful for MAC’s investment in community-based arts programming and for helping us create a more inclusive, connected, and creative Mississauga.”
– Alexandra Montealegre, Mississauga Players
Our MicroGrant program is made possible through the efforts of dedicated volunteers through the Charitable Gaming program. Thank you, Rama Gaming House, Mississauga Charitable Gaming Association, and Charitable Gaming. Community Good. for helping to fund artist-led projects!