
On 13-16 June 2016, people interested in learning more about community theatre across the UK – students, practitioners, academics, participants – gathered for a festival at actacentre, to share learning and to celebrate the diversity of original community theatre.
Thank you to everyone who brought shows, contributed to workshops and seminars, and shared with us.
Read closing remarks from François Matarasso here, and watch the film below.
Final Report (downloadable pdf) on the festival and seminars leading up to it – and including impact testimonies recorded by University of Exeter.
Festival Feedback (downloadable pdf) from festival attendees.
As a volunteer I was very struck by the great relationships and atmosphere within the entire festival team. There was no obvious divide between ‘regular’ or ‘local’ volunteers and others, like me, who had come from further afield… The regular volunteers and staff were in no sense proprietorial (which might have been expected and indeed understandable) – everyone was very welcoming, boundaries and roles very fluid, with a real sense of everyone being committed to the spirit of the festival and organisation and ready to muck in and make it happen. This is a credit to the acta leadership and testament to the genuine ethos of inclusivity and participation that pervades the entire enterprise. I’m so glad I could see this working and be part of it.
THE FESTIVAL STARTS TODAY! :) #actafestival16 Looking forward 2 welcoming everyone to #actacentre! #CultureMatters https://t.co/l98ylaU9Qx
Last rehearsals for the Community Collective tonight before the Citz Snakes invade Bristol for #actafestival16! https://t.co/L43oeeWsmU
Supper with Malcolm X Elders Theatre Co @actatheatre Truly a force of nature . #actafestival16
Having a wonderful introduction to the #actafestival16 this afternoon with some boss @CollEnc mates! Excited for the rest of the festival!
Happy to be here… @actatheatre #actafestival16 … just starting https://t.co/txyoTdqUPg
Fantastic first show @actatheatre #community #choir! #massiveattack #actafestival16 great to see #labour support! https://t.co/TksF3MpFkO
Fine @BristolCouncil turnout @actatheatre #actafestival16 tonight: @EstellaTincknel @mark_bradshaw @celiaphipps @RuthPickersgil1 all present
Delighted to hear @actatheatre community choir tackling the Massive Attack songbook as part of their opening performance of #actafestival16
Loved the Malcolm X Elders #MoonshineNights @actatheatre #actafestival16 tonight. Just joyful. https://t.co/UF5K5IC0Zf
The fantastic storytellers of the Malcolm X Elders Theatre Company present Moonshine Nights. #actafestival16 https://t.co/mQUvNMcBH0
Brilliant start to #actafestival16 with the @actatheatre community choir & Malcolm X Elders theatre co #Bedminster https://t.co/07YhrWgIBN
Malcolm X Elders effortlessly making the #creativecase for #diversity every show. #actafestival16 @ace_national https://t.co/UtHta5xNWR
Inspired by Moonshine Nights by Malcolm X Elders I’m having jerk chicken in local Jamaican Cafe. #actafestival16 https://t.co/3F1ztBHvoT
Wow! What a fantastic first night #actafestival16 @actatheatre! Side-splitting comedy stories from #MalcolmX group! https://t.co/tTedjA9TPB
Really enjoyed the launch of #actafestival16 with @actatheatre tonight! Looking forward to some great #communitytheatre this week!
For those of you who can’t make #actafestival16 here’s a link to their brilliant podcast on Community Theatre https://t.co/1rgznexbr7
#actafestival16 @actatheatre @ArnolfiniArts rehearsing #standinginmyowntruth @comartsnw
Our 3rd Age co are performing Wealth is Health @actatheatre #actafestival16 at 8.30pm tonight. Break a leg guys! https://t.co/RjlOvuZRJc
Lovely msg to start the morning @actatheatre from #MalcolmX elders: out of many nations comes one! #actafestival16 https://t.co/KviQwo8XfZ
Wonderful playing @EntelechyArts @actatheatre finding out more about work with isolated older people #actafestival16 https://t.co/m14NQQiJZM
A fantastic performance of ‘Wealth is Health’ by @CollEnc ! #actafestival16
Excited to see #StandinginmyOwnTruth from @comartsnw and #YusufCantTalk tonight at @ArnolfiniArts #actafestival16
Waiting for a collective encounter at #actafestival16 @CollEnc @actatheatre https://t.co/O7ytJNArHD
Wondering if the main difference between theatre and community theatre is who makes it … #actafestival16
Wonderful appreciative audience who danced with us #standinginmyowntruth @ArnolfiniArts @actatheatre @comartsnw #actafestival16
You need to hear the @actatheatre ukulele band sing ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ for the full effect … #actafestival16 https://t.co/dBGlfF4ycl
Really excited to help with #actafestival16 today! #communitytheatre https://t.co/MCQTXDWZVn
Hello You. Looking forward to a day @actatheatre #actafestival16 #ntwTEAM #whatiscommunity https://t.co/HkAkS9I6iz
Collective Encounters performer: ‘it’s built my confidence. The response from the audience – I just feel really warm.’ #actafestival16
Amazing camaraderie & support among Collective Encounters performers -more than simply a performance #actafestival16 https://t.co/8mzkSbomIA
NOW ON EAST ST #BEDMINSTER #BEDTOURING #ACTAFESTIVAL16 #THEATRE #COMMUNITY https://t.co/FnhYx0xXAN
Fab Collective Encounters theatre/political change with participation from assistance dog, Sally #actafestival16 https://t.co/PHCj2O8GWg
Simple & powerful statement on loneliness in old age thank you @EntelechyArts #actafestival16 https://t.co/jmXxGprQ5W
Bed – a fierce statement from @EntelechyArt on how we view & care for older people #actafestival16 https://t.co/afaiWi0nyy
Great day at #actafestival16 yesterday. @actatheatre @KerrieSchaefer #communitytheatre #medtheatre #acta https://t.co/hPSYHFWnbT
Powerful scenes in Bedminster, Bristol this afternoon with #Bedtouring – loneliness in old age. #actafestival16 https://t.co/rCS17YHq8U
Bed will be on South Street Park from 3pm! Now! #Bedminster #actafestival16 #BedTouring https://t.co/9sZZb1I9lj
Massive thank you to @actatheatre for hosting us at the brilliant #actafestival16. Congratulations on a fab event.
Creating international projects at #actafestival16 https://t.co/wBPsIDny7l
Rosie Wheatland in extraordinary @EntelechyArt performance today in Bristol #actafestival16 https://t.co/cybdRKF9UL
Heading north full of inspiration,ideas & reinforced pride at the difference community theatre makes to our world. Thank you #actafestival16
Fantastic final show in #actafestival16 @citizenstheatre deliciously deconstructing definition #actafestival16 https://t.co/hLPWeTpSdy
Neil from @citizenstheatre is taking part in a talkback session for #actafestival16 @actatheatre #Snakeskin https://t.co/1QpndN2emT
… and the #Snakeskin cast too! Well done to the cast. @citizenstheatre @actatheatre #actafestival16 https://t.co/AKEllZFy8T
@stellduffy @Eascai Amazing! Just about to do closing remarks on community theatre @actatheatre #actafestival16 – fingers crossed
#captivating #exhibition #artfromelsewhere @ArnolfiniArts on my way back from @actatheatre fantastic #actafestival16 https://t.co/VLGvv1LGLz
Thank you to everyone who performed/volunteered /shared & dreamed with us at #actafestival16 https://t.co/2wu5GEEXSN
From #actafestival16 to @LBubble #cwbw via @cssd_theatreapp this week. Common thread of theatre intersecting with care and attentiveness.
What a wonderful week. I am so blessed to have been a part of #actafestival16 https://t.co/7HwduDPEuL
I’ve had such an amazing week in Bristol at @actatheatre for #actafestival16!! ?
We had a great time in @actatheatre, Bristol for #actafestival16.
Have you heard our #CommunityTheatre Podcast? Listen here – https://t.co/I8cl4C4FGa #actafestival16 https://t.co/ZINBkUa2kt