The Secret Lives of Old People

Zirlib

Created, designed and directed by Mohamed El Khatib

Does life’s last stage also mean the end of love?

The Secret Lives of Old People (orig. La vie secrète des vieux) introduces us to a group of 76- to 90-year-olds who share their experiences of love and sex – from their first teenage romances to late-life affairs. Even though our bodies and social significance weaken with age, love still remains. And so does desire. When older people rediscover their sexuality, it means intimacy and passion without worrying about how you perform or what others may think.

Author-director Mohamed El Khatib’s documentary theatre projects give a voice to those who often go unheard. Based on interviews with more than a hundred senior citizens, this heartwarming piece tells it straight: you can hide us in a care home, but there's still fire left in us.

”There is gallows humour and unzipped ribaldry as a mischievous group share stories that are joyful, tender and sometimes eye-watering.”
Chris Wiegand, The Guardian