SPILL Festival hosts The Posh Club at Ipswich Corn Exchange – all the pictures

Older people got down with the groove at a special song and dance event earlier this week.

A sellout crowd of more than 250 people, all aged between their 60s and 90s, were treated to an afternoon of cabaret, carnival dancing, a Shirley Bassey impersonator, and a DJ playing childhood classics at Ipswich Corn Exchange on Tuesday.

The event, known as The Posh Club, was hosted by SPILL Festival.

A spokesperson for SPILL Festival described the event as swanky and elegant – which offered the chance for older people to ‘doll up’, socialise and have a good time.

The event was made possible through various grants, including one from Arts Council England.

The spokesperson said: “It was the most joyful, spectacular event.

“Lots of people came to us after the event telling us they had a wonderful time and urged us to bring it back.

“There are many benefits to events like this, particularly for older people, allowing them to get out of the house, socialise. It’s a special occasion, where people may have chatted to complete strangers, where new friendships and bonds were formed.

“However, it was also about tackling loneliness as some may have families who may not live locally and want to socialise.”

The spokesperson said the price of the event, which cost £5 to enter, was intentionally left low to make it more accessible.

The Posh Club was first conceived by the art collective Duckie, which styled it as a posh 1940s afternoon tea, and was involved in the event.

The spokesperson said the partnership with Duckie made it possible to host the event in Ipswich.

Ipswich-based ActivLives also helped connect with the community and invite them to the event.