THE issue of growing old without children is to be the subject of a play in York.

It is estimated one in five people aged over 50 have no children, which has been dubbed a demographic ticking timebomb.

The dilemma is who will help support this growing band of the population growing old without family support?

York campaigner Sue Lister, who runs the local branch of Ageing Without Children (AWOC), wants to produce a piece of theatre on the issue for next year's International Women's Festival in the city.

Sue, who is in her 70s and childless through choice, said there were lots of reasons why people might be AWOC. "It isn't whether you have got children or not. It's whether your children are nearby and have the time and willingness to lend a hand. They could be abroad, have moved to Somerset, be busy in London, or be disabled or have mental health problems, or may be estranged.

"You might not want to be a burden, or never been able to have children, or never wanted children. All these are AWOCs. That's partly why there are going to be millions of people ageing alone."

Sue wants to shine the spotlight on the issue through a production in next year's women's festival.

Sue has been a stalwart of the festival for many years and puts on an annual play with Real People Theatre. She is looking for folk to come forward to take part in her new production, No Kidding, on March 9 and 10.

Auditions will be held on Saturday January 6 at 1pm in the Tesco Community Room at Tesco, Askham Bar, Tadcaster Road, York. She is looking for people of all ages to volunteer to share their stories and concerns on ageing alone and loneliness: the performance will be a mix of songs, monologues, sketches and poetry.

Sue said: "No, we're not kidding. We are giving voice to the millions of older people who are ageing without the support of children through choice, circumstance, infertility, bereavement, estrangement or distance. Ageing at home alone and not knowing who to call when in sudden need of a helping hand.

"For its 19th consecutive show for York International Women's Festival, the Real People Theatre will be presenting a collage of stories on this vitally important theme through drama, poetry, music, song and images.

"There will be audience interaction and discussion as usual."

Sue, who has recently received an MBE for services to equality, diversity and the arts in Yorkshire, has been a founding member of the York 50+ Festival and the York LGBT forum as well as the York Older People's Assembly and set up the Real People's Theatre in 1999 with her partner Ann Murray.

AWOC is Sue's latest venture, and one she cares about passionately. This year she attended a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Housing and Care for Older People, chaired by Lord Best, alongside other representatives working with seniors in the UK.

The AWOC group in York meets on the second Wednesday of the month in the Cross Keys pub in Goodramgate, alternating with afternoon or evening sessions. Speakers attend each session to talk about issues. The next meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 10, from 2pm-4pm and will feature a talk on assistive technology from Danny Shephard of Be Independent.

To find out more about AWOC or taking part in No Kidding, contact Sue on 01904 488870.