Projects

Working with the community

We are always open to discussing innovative project opportunities, using the arts and creativity to develop participatory and community led programmes.

Placed based partnerships with different sectors has been at the forefront of our work, responding to and enriching the lives of our local communities through creativity.

Youth Social Action

Empowering young people and using their voices to inspire our work.

Intergenerational & Community Projects

Connecting younger people with older people with dementia.

Health & Wellbeing

Improving physical and mental health through the power of creativity.

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 and youth-led project ‘The feeling of knowing something is wrong, but it isn't' with emerging, local artists & with the support of mentors at MAST.

Exploring real stories through live theatre and music, we delve into the themes of female reproductive health and gender identity. These stories, often shrouded in silence and shame across cultures and generations, are brought to light through collaborative creation.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Collaborating with Asian and Muslim youth groups and local communities, we are eager to address racial inequities that hinder people from accessing fair support.

Another key development is to continue exploring real stories and voices related to gender inequality, stigma, and discrimination experienced by young LGBTQ+ communities.

Supported by LifeLab (University of Southampton)
MAST Mayflower Studios

2023

During the research and development phase of Your Brain Explained we had the pleasure of collaborating with remarkable young people from Southampton and Portsmouth. Using guided improvisation, co-creation and creativity we engaged the young people in an imaginative tour of their own brains using ‘Think, Brain, Health’ to explore positive versus negative lifestyle choices.

We visited 18 schools, colleges, charities and youth organisations (56.3 % of the young people we enagaged with were living in the 10% most deprived areas of the UK) with our FREE production between October - December, 2023 with a community performance at MAST Mayflower Studios.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Our goal is provide a platform for neurodivergent young people to express themselves creatively, creating a space where diverse voices are heard and celebrated. Working with new audiences Your Brain Explained will continue to inspire curiosity, understanding, and empathy towards different ways of thinking and being.

Enquiries: enquiries@theatreforlife.co.uk

2023 Your Brain Explained project
Supported by Alzheimer's Research UK Inspire Fund
National Lottery Community Funding

Roots and Branches

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

2023
Dementia activity groups & care home tour
To book email: enquiries@theatreforlife.co.uk

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Roots and Branches

2021-2023

Throughout our intergenerational, community led and creative programme, we have been connecting young people (14 - 25 years) with older people with dementia. Both groups have been sharing experiences to gain an insight into each other’s lives through restorative and arts based activities which have helped to improve health, wellbeing and social isolation.

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.

Featured on ITV News

"Excellent performances by all the actors & interesting interpretations of personal stories. Definitely do it again for a longer run, audiences should see this!"

"The way these people stories were told was impactful and insightful, whilst remaining upbeat and celebratory"

"I think the group was a massive success. Alan didn't stop talking about how much he enjoyed it. Never seen him so interactive. Thank you!"

"Loved, loved, loved this! The drama, music, humour and romance brought alive by this talented young cast"

Regeneration

Regeneration was a joint initiative between Southampton Children’s Hospital and Theatre for Life to support children and young people to engage with arts, culture, nature, advice and physical activity.

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Regeneration

2021-2022

Specifically aimed at young people with a long term medical condition, it helped them to recover from COVID-19 through the power of social prescribing.

"Before Regeneration I wasn't a very confident person. I wasn't sure whether I should talk to a person or not because I was worried I'd embarrass myself or they wouldn't like me. But at Regeneration I've learnt to not worry about what other people think of you. Just be yourself and don't be afraid to make friends! Now when I meet someone new, I want to be friends with them and I have the confidence to do it!"

Consultancy Projects

Regeneration

Theatre for Life was a core partner with Southampton Children’s Hospital.

Regeneration Annual Report

Publications

Featured in the Arts Council England Creative Health and Wellbeing: Case Studies 2022.

View Case Studies

Michelle Smith (Artistic Director of Theatre for Life) worked jointly with Sarah Shameti (PEEER Youth Service Lead, Southampton Children’s Hospital)

The focus of Regeneration was in response to the significant impact of lockdown on the mental and physical health of children and young people living with a long-term health condition.

Michelle helped to embed arts and creativity into the programme, exploring multi-disciplinary approaches and combined arts projects. She designed an extensive offering of sociable, engaging and exciting opportunities to promote positive mental health and wellbeing.

Exploring different modes of delivery was a key feature with hybrid and blended approaches integrated into prescribing opportunities to support young people still shielding or who had been admitted to hospital, Covid and health inequalities.

"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

Emerge

A collaborative film with Theatre for Life, Southampton Children’s Hospital and Southampton City Council Cultural Services.

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Emerge

2020-2021

Emerge was a community led film devised and written by young people, inspired by real stories from 1912 and 2021 which reflected the tenacity of the human condition both past and present. Modern perspectives were contrasted against a community dealing with the aftermath of the Titanic tragedy. A powerful and honest film, sharing hidden stories and challenging inequalities, helping us to learn from the past to inform our futures

"The connections that the film managed to draw between the Titanic disaster and its aftermath and the trials and obstacles faced many in our own time was genuinely thought-provoking."

"The message about the need for resilience in such circumstances was so powerful and timely."

Silent Mind

2018 to present

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.

Climate Change Arts and Science Project

Public engagement with Research at the University of Southampton and Life Lab

Conservation organisations - New Forest National Park Authority, Students organising for sustainability and Southampton National Park Authority

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Climate Change Arts and Science Project - Generation Anthropocene

2020-2021

Young people used reflective practices and applied theatre to research and understand the science behind the unfolding emergency to tell the story of the impact of climate change on their communities. Our final site-specific theatre performances engaged with audiences in Southampton City Centre and the New Forest show.

Using green and blue prescribing and working with nature lead our young people into more environmentally aware lifestyles, working towards low and zero carbon best practice.

"It's inspired me to learn more about climate change and has given me hope"
Young person, 15 years

"Your performers had a big impact on me at the show. As much about the design of the performance as the determination to perform in such a challenging space."
New Forest National Park Authority Lead Education and Youth officer

"Thank you so much to you and the team today for coming to the Show and sharing the important message of the piece ‘Anthropocene’ . It was a challenge for sure – but they rose to the occasion mightily and were very inspiring to those watching."
New Forest National Park Authority

Testimonials

Working with Theatre for Life over the past year on the Climate Change project has been truly inspirational. Spending time with the young people, exploring the impact of climate change on different environments; the forest, the shore and the city and seeing the future from their perspective; learning from experts and finding out how young people can change policy and influence our local and national government; watching how Michelle and Dominic worked with the young people to take their ideas and develop their story, watching the young people grow into their story and take on their roles has been just fantastic.

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

Working with Theatre for Life over the past year on the Climate Change project has been truly inspirational. Spending time with the young people, exploring the impact of climate change on different environments; the forest, the shore and the city and seeing the future from their perspective; learning from experts and finding out how young people can change policy and influence our local and national government; watching how Michelle and Dominic worked with the young people to take their ideas and develop their story, watching the young people grow into their story and take on their roles has been just fantastic.

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

Projects

Working with the community

We are always open to discussing innovative project opportunities, using the arts and creativity to develop participatory and community led programmes.

Placed based partnerships with different sectors has been at the forefront of our work, responding to and enriching the lives of our local communities through creativity.

Youth Social Action

Empowering young people and using their voices to inspire our work.

Intergenerational & Community Projects

Connecting younger people with older people with dementia.

Health & Wellbeing

Improving physical and mental health through the power of creativity.

2023 - 2025

2023

Roots and Branches

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

Roots and Branches

2021-2023

Regeneration

Regeneration

2021-2022

Consultancy Projects

Regeneration

Publications

Emerge

Emerge

2020-2021

Silent Mind

2018 to present

Silent Mind

2018 to present

Official partnership with mental health charity, Solent Mind

Climate Change Arts and Science Project

Climate Change Arts and Science Project - Generation Anthropocene

2020-2021

Testimonials

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