Retirees in Armenia Breathe New Life into Shakespeare's Plays

A group of retirees living in a dilapidated Soviet-era retirement home in Armenia are rehearsing an original play that confronts the tragic fates of Shakespeare's characters. The play, titled "Shakespeare's Sins," sees the Bard's famous characters confront him over their tragic destinies.

The documentary "Outliving Shakespeare" follows this retiree theater troupe as they bond during and between rehearsals, transforming from a lighthearted look at the innocent dignity of aging into a deeper, more thought-provoking exploration of the loneliness that accompanies it. As the production unfolds, the theater mirrors the reality of the residents' own lives.

Directed by Inna Sahakyan and Ruben Ghazaryan, "Outliving Shakespeare" premiered on Tuesday at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA). The film, a co-production between Armenia-based Bars Media and the Netherlands-based BIND, offers a unique and poignant glimpse into the lives of these elderly actors as they find rhythm, meaning, and a chance to be truly seen through their theatrical endeavor.