Join our community companies who present a trilogy investigating collective activism in an individualist age.
Join Arcola’s community companies who present a trilogy investigating collective activism in an individualist age. Amplifying queer voices (Queer Collective), tackling the stigma around mental health (Mental Health Community Company) and exploring journeys through life’s eras (Arcola 50+ Group), these plays encompass communal joy, communal pain and communal courage in moments of uncertainty.
Recall by 50+ Group
When a community is asked to choose: do we demolish, or do we remember? The future of Ashwin Hall hangs in the balance. A love letter to community spaces and the people who make them matter.
Digest by Mental Health Community Company
A group of strangers have been invited to join a potluck. They must bring their most delicious memory. A play offering a delicious feast of culinary storytelling.
Embrace by Queer Collective
Placing activist communities centre stage, Queer Collective explores protests past to show us how to protest now. A rallying cry which asks us to hold hands, dance and disrupt.
Arcola’s annual Participation Festival celebrating youth and community theatre is back! Over 100 participants local to Hackney between the ages of 9 and 79 will take to the stage to present 5 new devised works which have been in development over the Autumn 2025 and Spring 2026 Participation season here at Arcola Theatre.
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Running time
1 hour (no interval) -
Age guidance
12+ -
Content warnings
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Adam Carvell
Director
Adam Carvell
Director
Adam is the lead facilitator for Tuesday Youth Theatre and co-creatively leads Queer Collective.
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Aoife Beaumont
Director
Aoife Beaumont
Director
Aoife is the lead facilitator for Wednesday Youth Theatre and co-creatively leads 50+ Group and Mental Health Community Company.
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Hannah Lee
Director
Hannah Lee
Director
Hannah is the assistant facilitator for Wednesday Youth Theatre and 50+ Group.
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Jess Mckenna
Director
Jess Mckenna
Director
Jess co-creatively leads Queer Collective.
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Josh Picton
Director
Josh Picton
Director
Josh co-creatively leads Mental Health Community Company.
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Hannah Brennan
Assistant Producer
Hannah Brennan
Assistant Producer
Hannah is Assistant Producer for Community Companies and supports the runnings of 50+ Group, Mental Health Community Company and Queer Collective.
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Mikaela Mondlane
Stage Manager
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Dafydd Veck
Musical Director
Dafydd Veck
Musical Director
Musical director for Digest by Mental Health Community Company and Embrace by Queer Collective.
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Georgia Collins
Production Participation Placement Student
Georgia Collins
Production Participation Placement Student
Sound design for Recall by 50+ Group and community company production support.
Book your tickets
Event Instance Listings
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Mon 23 Mar
7pm
Embrace (Queer Collective)
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Tue 24 Mar
7pm
Digest (Mental Health)
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Wed 25 Mar
7pm
Recall (50+)
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Thu 26 Mar
7pm
Digest (Mental Health)
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Fri 27 Mar
7pm
Embrace (Queer Collective)
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Sat 28 Mar
7pm
Recall (50+)