“A community cannot be a community without a shared narrative.”
Community is at the heart of Persona’s ethos and shapes every aspect of our work. From the locations we choose to our collaborative methods of devising theatre, it is what gives each project depth, relevance, and a sense of shared ownership.
Each performance develops organically through performance workshops (dance and theatre) and design workshops (lighting, sound, and set design). We work site-specifically, drawing inspiration from the history, atmosphere, and stories of each place. Research and creative collaboration ensure that every piece grows directly from the community it represents.
Our community outreach is built on partnerships with local organisations, businesses, and groups. These collaborations allow us to engage a wide range of participants and reflect the diversity of the communities we work with.
Through storytelling, play, improvisation, and dance, local participants create theatre that is both rooted in and made for their own spaces and stories.
Devising Theatre
Our shows are co-created through devised theatre techniques, and we invite a diverse and intergenerational group (18+) to get involved. Each project becomes a space for encounter, fostering social and creative networks. It offers both personal and collective exploration, where every participant plays an integral role in shaping the final piece.
Open Calls
Persona Collective is in constant flux, and we rely on the participation of communities local to each venue to develop and stage our performances. Every host venue becomes a meeting point, rehearsal space, and performance site for a new community of amateur and professional creatives and performers.
We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities, including Black, Asian, and minority ethnic/POC, refugee, D/deaf, disabled, neurodivergent, working-class, and/or LGBTQI+ participants, to join our creative space.
During our programme, you will:
➔ Work on site-specific research, exploring and documenting the host location, understanding its history and unique qualities, and sharing findings on a shared online platform.
➔ Participate in weekly performance workshops (dance, theatre, physical theatre), developing your character through co-creation while building technique and skills through improvisation, movement, and playful exercises.
➔ Or participate in design workshops (lighting, sound, set design), choosing an area of focus, learning technical skills, and contributing ideas for each scene. You will explore site-specific lighting, soundscapes, and spatial set design to enhance the immersive performance.
➔ Perform or present your work in a final series of live immersive theatre performances open to the public.
➔ Forge new creative and social networks, meeting fellow participants and collaborating with professionals.
If you would like to be involved in one of our future projects, please keep on eye on this page and our Instagram @persona_collective for our next open call or sign up to our newsletter.
