“We have conversations like, ‘How do you take your tea in the morning?’ through to how love nowadays isn’t the same. It’s gorgeous,” said Maya, one of a group of students involved in a partnership project involving The Brit School and Mountbatten Isle of Wight.

24/7 Newport-based Mountbatten, which also provides community services and bereavement support across the Island, again joined forces with Croydon’s performing arts school, this week.

The young performers spent three days meeting patients and staff, before turning their experiences into an original show. It was staged for free on Wednesday, July 17, at the John Cheverton Centre, in Halberry Lane.

Watching on the night, one patient said: “I thought it went very well and I enjoyed what they did. They entertained me and that was lovely.”

Another audience member said: “I very much enjoyed it. They were brave and put themselves out there.”

“It was very entertaining,” said another. “I was singing.”

Maya, who was based on the Island for this year’s project, explained: “We do applied theatre and this is something the Year 12s do every single year. It’s so rewarding.

“Often, the people we speak to have the most incredible life stories. The conversations are inciteful.

“I’m not a confident person. A year ago, I couldn’t go into a room and sit next to people and make conversation. Now I lead performing arts workshops for older people. 

“It’s not scary. We’re just coming in to have a chat.”

Croydon-based The BRIT School provides a unique education for over 1,400 pupils aged between 14 and 19, in music, film, digital design, visual arts, production and performing arts.

Ray Oudkerk, Assistant Principal at The BRIT School, said: “The BRIT School, working in partnership with Mountbatten, makes our hearts beat stronger. Bringing our Applied Theatre students, aged 16 and 17, to hear the varied life stories in the hospice is a privilege.

Creating a shared performance after three beautiful, intense days of talking, listening and drinking tea, is such an important and impactful experience for our students.

“We hope it’s also a powerful, life-affirming experience for those using the hospice.

“Can’t wait to be back next year!”

The event was supported by a team of volunteers from Mountbatten Isle of Wight, who served canapes and drinks.

Two-thirds publicly funded, Mountbatten Isle of Wight supports over 2,200 Islanders on any one day.