Supporting your health and wellbeing through creativity

Theatre for Life is an arts organisation working with marginalised groups, NHS, mental health charities, educational providers & the wider community through specialist creative and health programmes.

We make theatre with the community for the community, with a strong focus on shared experiences and improved physical and mental health.

We believe access to the arts and culture helps us to live well in our communities, playing a valuable part in helping to tackle some of the most challenging social and health conditions.

Therapeutic and restorative programmes which use the arts and collaborative theatre. As an experienced organisation advocating wellbeing, we also have a consultancy agency for organisations & the educational sector looking to integrate creative health & theatre into their programmes. Social prescribing, community & educational packages.
theatre for life teenagers

Your Brain Explained 

2023

During the research and development phase of "Your Brain Explained," we had the pleasure of collaborating with remarkable young individuals from Southampton and Portsmouth. Together, we embarked on an interactive journey into the complexities of neurons and cerebral connections that make up the four distinct parts of our brains - cerebrum, cerebellum, limbic system, and brain stem.Thanks to the openness of these young people, we gained invaluable insight into some of the impulsive behaviours that we all exhibit, which can sometimes hinder our ability to perform at our best.

Through the use of theatre and neuroscience, we explored a world of mindless phone scrolling, sleepless nights, and an inability to concentrate in school, all of which contribute to higher levels of anxiety and poor lifestyle choices. It became clear that this universal story was pervasive among us all, with technology and social media being at the heart of our fixation.

The play's creation was an opportunity to candidly discuss brain health, specifically capturing Charlie's inner sense of restlessness and his potential ADHD diagnosis. It was an opportunity to highlight the importance of supporting those living with dementia, which we weaved into the story of Charlie and his Aunty.

According to Alzheimer's Research UK, simple adjustments to our lifestyle can significantly reduce the risk of non-genetic dementia by 40%. "Your Brain Explained" offers an interactive glimpse into our brains, empowering us to make healthy choices for our future wellbeing.

We are visiting 18 schools, colleges, charities and youth organisations in Hampshire with our FREE production between October - December, 2023. 


Enquiries: enquiries@theatreforlife.co.uk

Supported by Alzheimer's Research UK Inspire Fund 
National Lottery Community Funding 
 

 

 

Silent Mind 

London Borough of Hillingdon  

We have been funded by the Adolescent Development Service in the Borough of Hillingdon to bring you this performance for free in the Autumn term. 

Silent Mind is a positive and inclusive experience, as an interactive piece of theatre it actively involves young people to participate in wellbeing and mindfulness techniques. It will inspire thoughts and views on mental health awareness through safe working practices in drama. We focus on positive growth mindsets which help to build confidence and encourage expression from groups who may otherwise find it hard to participate in PSHE or drama based activities. 

Our audiences actively participate in therapeutic drama based activities within the play and workshop to facilitate personal growth and wellbeing.

We have provided a series of MEET THE CAST videos for teachers to share with students, each video introduces the different mental health stories and positive messages for young audiences. 

Email to reserve your free place for the Autumn Term: education@theatreforlife.co.uk

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SILENT MIND 

INTERACTIVE THEATRE PRODUCTION AND WORKSHOP 

Silent Mind is a positive and inclusive experience, as an interactive piece of theatre it actively involves young people to participate in wellbeing and mindfulness techniques. It will inspire thoughts and views on mental health awareness through safe working practices in drama. We focus on positive growth mindsets which help to build confidence and encourage expression from groups who may otherwise find it hard to participate in PSHE or drama based activities.

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  “Silent Mind addressed tricky subject matters, but it was tastefully executed. Sound and music were used to good effect, and the movement quality of the choral elements of the production were equally useful, providing audience members with ‘breathing space’ and ‘processing time’ before each new story was told” Enham Trust, 2022
“Silent Mind has inspired me as a story of empowerment and hope, not just pain” Young Carer, 2019
“It was so professional and heartfelt. One of my young people told me in the break that it seemed like they could read her mind!” Teacher, 2021

NEW CLIMATE CHANGE PROJECT - FREE YOUTH PROGRAMME

Febuary - August, 2024


GENERATION ANTHROPOCENE - FREE Youth Led Community Project 

We are looking for young people aged 14-25 years old who are interested in participating in an interactive, and hands-on programme focused on climate science and conservation. Our goal is to investigate the impact of climate change on local communities in Southampton and the New Forest.

You can choose from 12 sessions, where you will work with climate scientists, park rangers, and marine biologists in the New Forest, Southampton, and coastal areas to study the direct impact on our environment. In the second year (Sept 24-25), we will hold eight youth consultancy sessions to explore the creation of a play.

We will use your experiences to develop an original theatre performance that will address potential threats and provide solutions to mitigate them. Join us and be a part of this exciting community initiative!

***We will cover all travel costs and will provide assisted travel to locations 

NEW CLIMATE CHANGE PROJECT - YOUNG PERSON REGISTRATION 

NEW CLIMATE CHANGE PROJECT - PARENT / GUARDIAN REGISTRATION (14-18 years old) 

FIND OUT MORE:

2022 Youth led Climate Change programme - Documentary

Podcast recording with the University of Southampton


Enquiries: enquiries@theatreforlife.co.uk

Supported by New Forest National Park Authority 
National Lottery Community Funding 


    

When Puberty meets Menopause 

2023 - 2025

We are delighted to announce that we have been selected as a Propel Associate as part of the NEW Propel Associate Artist programme at MAST Mayflower Studios. 

During our twenty months as a Propel Associate, we will be developing our creative health project ‘When Puberty meets Menopause’ with fellow artists & with the support of mentors at MAST. 

We will be using recorded interviews and real stories gathered through our recent University of Southampton funded research project as the main focus for our verbatim inspired play. 

Collective voices and powerful advice captured during eight focus groups have provided an important insight into how different generations can support each other from puberty to menopause.

Supported by LifeLab (University of Southampton) 
MAST Mayflower Studios 
 

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NEW CLIMATE CHANGE PROJECT - ACTOR / MUSICIAN CALLOUT 

2023 -2026


GENERATION ANTHROPOCENE* - COMMUNITY TOUR
AUDITIONS 

6th January, 2024 
9 am - 1 pm at MAST Mayflower Studios, Southampton 

We are seeking talent for our new climate change centred production and tour in 2026, Generation Anthropocene (*working title), which will be researched in 2024 and devised in 2025 with the company, local youth communities and an applied theatre writer.

We are looking for 4 Hampshire-based actor / musicians or actors aged 18-30 years old to join our company, who have strong physical theatre and movement skills, and familiarity with a musical instrument or singing. 

You should have an interest in climate change and community theatre.
Driving and own car preferable - we will also car share. 

Availability: 6 outdoor research sessions (2 hours each) on Saturdays between January - August, 2024
28 rehearsal & development days between September 2024 and October 2025
28 community performances between January and August 2026

PAID POSITION £8,790 (Over 3 years)

15 audition slots available between 9 am - 1 pm
Reserve your place here

Enquiries: enquiries@theatreforlife.co.uk

Supported by New Forest National Park Authority 
National Lottery Community Funding 



    

Roots & Branches

2022 - 2023

Roots & Branches is a collaborative, intergenerational and creative project between Theatre for Life, Solent Mind, Remind Dementia services and Mayfield Nurseries.

Roots and Branches celebrates real life stories across 70 years which have been shared by our dementia groups and retold through devised theatre by our youth theatre company. Recorded audio and verbatim theatre captured during interviews with our groups has been delicately weaved into the production to also raise awareness around living with dementia.

In 2023 we will be offering a free tour of Roots and Branches to local care homes and dementia groups across Hampshire.

Enquiries: enquiries@theatreforlife.co.uk

Supported with National Lottery Community Funding.

Recent ITV News article

Credit James James Dunham - ITV News Meridian

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Testimonials

Brilliant, outstanding theatre, fantastic actors, every single one shone!

Fay Rusling, writer for TV & Film, BBC, C4, ITV, FOX and Radio 4

Michelle was instrumental in helping me further my career through her intelligent, dynamic and creative work as a director and tutor. Michelle's understanding and professional approach makes it very easy to work with her.

Christopher Hewitt, BA (Hons) in Professional Musical Theatre & Dance (First Class Honours) - The Urdang Academy, London

RADA is excited to be working with Theatre for Life to encourage young people from diverse backgrounds to participate in the arts. By offering a RADA workshop and Q&A session on drama school auditioning, we hope to open access to drama school training for talented young people in Southampton.

Carys Williams, RADA Widening Participation & Outreach Manager

Silent Mind is a powerful vehicle that is brilliantly devised, it is simply captivating, engaging and poignantly absorbing'

Anne Waggott, Sceneoneplus.com

It has been so powerful to see how we can use science and theatre to tell the stories of climate change, thinking about how the choices we make can affect not just the health of our planet, but also our health.

Dr Kathryn Woods-Townsend, LifeLab Programme Manager, Associate Professor (Research), Southampton Education School, NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre

The PEEER Youth Service at Southampton Children’s Hospital support young people living with long-term health conditions and we have had the opportunity to work with Theatre for Life and Michelle on a number of occasions. The workshops and projects Michelle has delivered for us in the past have allowed young people to tap into their own creative tools and find ways to express themselves and relate with others. As a service we partnered with Theatre for Life to deliver our Regeneration social prescribing programme, which was jointly led by Michelle and myself. Michelle is a passionate and motivated professional, who strives to enable young people to explore creative mediums and develop confidence and as they are encouraged to be involved and be heard. The outcomes of Michelle’s work reflect the commitment, care and dedication to detail Michelle gives to each and every project. I hope to work closely with Theatre for Life again in the future.

Sarah Shameti, PEEER Youth Service Lead, Southampton Children’s Hospital

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actors preparing for the play

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Telephone:
07711 395851

General Enquiries
enquiries@theatreforlife.co.uk
Education:
education@theatreforlife.co.uk

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