Arcola Participation’s community performance companies provide free and low-cost
opportunities to marginalised groups to explore theatre practices as an ensemble, expand
networks and build communities and be involved in high quality performance-based
projects.
Arcola Theatre has been pioneers in targeted community theatre since our inception in 2000.
In October 2025 we will begin new weekly sessions for Queer Collective, 50+ Group and
Mental Health Community Company. Each group will engage in weekly sessions building
towards performances as part of Arcola’s Participation Festival in March 2026. Each group
will devise a new play based on collective activism in an individualist age which amplifies
queer voices (Queer Collective) tackles the stigma around mental health (Mental Health
Community Company) and ageism and life lessons (Arcola 50+ Group) creating a trilogy of
plays exploring community joy, pain and courage.
Our Community Companies are run by London’s leading community and education-based
theatre practitioners and work with members to stage new work or re-imagined productions
that shatter expectations and challenge preconceptions.
Queer Collective
East London’s performance collective for the LGBTQIA+ community exploring identity and
Queer performance practices.
Weekly sessions from October 2025 to April 2026 on Tuesdays at 7.30pm – 9.00pm.
‘Queer Collective gave me a space to have some epiphanies about my identity and learn
new skills in the creative, sympathetic environment!’
Applications have now closed for our 2025 – 2026 sessions.
Mental Health Community Company
Using theatre and live performance as a vessel to explore and tackle the stigma surrounding
mental health.
Weekly sessions from October 2025 to April 2026 on Tuesdays at 7.30pm – 9.00pm.
‘I’ve really felt part of something special and made new friends, so it’s really had a profound
effect.’
Applications have now closed for our 2025 – 2026 sessions.
Sawa Community Theatre Company
Sawa is a creative space formed by and for those with lived experience of migration, displacement, and who are refugees or seeking asylum.
Sawa Community Theatre Company Collaborates with participants from Hackney Migrant Centre and Islington Migrant and Refugee Centre to deliver workshops across East London. English, Arabic and Turkish are spoken by the facilitators. The sessions are free to attend.
50+ Group
A space for local residents over the age of 50 to explore theatre and performance.
Weekly sessions from October 2025 to April 2026 on Wednesdays at 7.30pm – 9.00pm.
‘The Arcola Theatre’s 50+ acting group offered me more than just an introduction to acting – it provided community, purpose and creative fulfilment. For anyone finding themselves stuck in life’s difficult chapters, I cannot recommend enough the transformative potential of stepping onto the stage, even if it’s your first time.’
Applications have now closed for our 2025 – 2026 sessions.
Our community companies are proudly supported this season by:
