how we work
We believe that theatre belongs to everyone, and everyone has a story to tell. acta creates a place where everyone’s story matters, where individual opinions and experiences count, and are valued by others. We enable communities to share their stories, and engage audiences who rarely attend theatre.
Our projects create positive change in individuals, raising aspirations and improving skills, confidence, self-worth & employability; we enable people to work together, make theatre and have fun.
acta enables people to see theatre in a different way, specifically targeting non theatre- goers from the least engaged sections of the community, as well as introducing quality community theatre to existing theatre audiences. We make theatre which connects to these audiences, theatre which is relevant to, and reflective of, their culture and life experiences.
This connection is only achievable with a devising practice that allows the natural voice of participants to resonate through every performance. Participants use their own experiences and imaginations, their own words to connect with audiences and to create remarkable theatre.
where we work
acta engages people without privilege, who are not connected to the cultural life of Bristol – isolated older people; migrants, refugees and asylum seekers; vulnerable young people; disabled people; people living outside the City Centre.
We create new theatre across the City of Bristol – intergenerational and intercultural – with diverse communities, with all ages.
key facts
Over the last three years acta has created 47 original new shows, and engaged well over 2,000 participants and almost 10,000 audience members.
acta has significantly increased its audience numbers, with more shows selling out and two thirds of audiences new to our work. The company is rapidly developing a new audience for theatre.
‘acta is one of the UK’s leading Community Theatres, highly respected both nationally and internationally’
Professor Helen Nicholson, Royal Holloway, University of London.