Our Top Five of 2022
2022 was an incredible year, and it was hard to pick out just five moments from a year in which we received the news that we had achieved NPO status and finally got back to safe, in-person theatre performances.
We’ve listed our top five moments below, and wanted to say thank you to anyone who has supported us in 2022, and a warm welcome to those who have discovered us in 2023. Your continued support and engagement in our theatre performances and projects inspires us daily, and encourages us in our mission to promote and create diverse and inclusive art in Kent.
1. Continuing to work with the Lyrici Arts Team
2022 marks another year that we were able to work with our creative, loyal, and supportive Lyrici Arts team. Our team of artists, industry experts, and ultimately, friends, have enabled us to share accessible theatre and arts projects that we are truly proud of. They support us in our vision to share diverse theatre throughout Medway and Kent, and we are so grateful to work with them.
You can meet some of our fabulous team here.
2. Part 2 of NOT HOME
2022 saw the second instalment of NOT HOME, led by our associate artist and local poet, David Dykes! We loved supporting a local creative to produce wonderful work within the community, exploring the idea of collaborative creativity. As a grounding force, the theme of the workshops was Home, but participants looked across all aspects of this theme: security and insecurity, nostalgia and hopes, moving away from home and staying home.
We look forward to seeing what David will be working on in 2023, and you can read the groups poems and David’s evaluation of the project here.
3. The launch of HOMEWARD
We also launched our HOMEWARD artist academy for Black heritage artists! Through a programme of yearly events, participants will explore how the word ‘homeward’ connects with themes of personal identity, lived experience, culture and heritage.
Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to hear more on our 2023 programme.
4. The Soul Food Tour
As part of the academy, we toured our first HOMEWARD Production: Soul Food! The show was supported by Creative Estuary, Medway Council, Arts Council England, Royal Opera House Bridge, and Kent County Council. Thank you for your continued support, and helping us to share our work with future supporters and audiences!
The Soul Food Tour brought us the opportunity to work with four, incredible, Black heritage artists! We want to say thank you to Aduke Aladekomo, Monique Day, Chika Jones, and Lizzy Partridge for their creativity, honesty, and talent in bringing Soul Food to life. The show explored what home, identity and culture meant to them, delighting audiences across Kent, and was more than we could have ever hoped for as our first HOMEWARD production.
5. Joining the National Portfolio of Organisations
Last, but certainly not least, we were recognised for our Black and diverse arts and theatre work in Medway, and found out that we were entering the National Portfolio of Organisations from April 2023! 2023 is an opportunity for new beginnings, the growing of our arts programme, and exciting partnership announcements, and we look forward to working more with Arts Council England.
