Applied Theatre Podcast

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In this episode I speak with David Gibson, founder of Off-Script Safeguarding, a safeguarding consultancy working exclusively across the creative arts, from grassroots community projects to professional theatre, dance and film productions.

With nearly 25 years of experience in safeguarding, David has spent much of his career working with young people and exploring how creative spaces can support their development. Through Off-Script Safeguarding, he works with organisations to develop practices that recognise the particular needs of the creative arts, helping to ensure that safeguarding is not simply a set of policies to comply with, but an integral part of how we work.

We discuss:
- David’s journey into safeguarding and the relationship between his work with young people and the creative arts.

- What it means to move beyond policy compliance and develop a genuine safeguarding culture within an organisation.

- The particular challenges of safeguarding in creative spaces, where exploration, experimentation and the freedom to take creative risks are central to the work.

- How practitioners can recognise the needs of the young people they work with, and consider how the content, activities and environments they create might affect them.

- The importance of understanding power, creating clear routes for raising concerns, and ensuring that both young people and staff feel supported.

- Safeguarding in professional theatre, including the role of chaperones, licensing and the challenges of establishing consistent approaches across different local authorities.

- Why safeguarding should not be about restricting creativity, but about creating the conditions in which people can work safely, confidently and ambitiously.

This episode considers how we can take greater responsibility for the spaces we create, and why safeguarding needs to be understood as part of our creative practice rather than something that sits alongside it. Thank you David for your time and for sharing your experience and knowledge.

Offscript Safeguarding:

Website: https://offscriptsafeguarding.co.uk

LinkedIn: Search for David Gibson and Offscript Safeguarding.

Applied Theatre Podcast:

Substack: https://appliedtheatrepodcast.substack.com

Instagram: @AppliedTheatrePod

Email: [email protected]

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#theatre #appliedtheatre #appliedtheatrepodcast #podcast #safeguarding #creativesafeguarding #youththeatre

Subscribe on Substack, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube (with subtitles) – Applied Theatre Podcast

In this episode I speak with Lara Parmiani, Founder and Artistic Director of LegalAliens Theatre, a migrant-led Theatre of Sanctuary based in Tottenham, North London. Since 2012 LegalAliens has created physically driven, politically engaged theatre platforming migrants and refugees as artists, participants and collaborators. Their Tottenham Project, running weekly since 2018, offers free theatre training for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants at the Engine Room in Tottenham Hale.

We speak on the occasion of Ali in Wonder(Eng)land, playing at Jacksons Lane on 14th and 15th July, a reimagining of Alice in Wonderland devised with and performed by an ensemble of migrants and refugees.

Ali arrives in a surreal version of England full of rules that keep changing, interviews with no right answers, and helpful people who make everything worse. It's Carroll's Wonderland, just with better paperwork.

We discuss:
- The evolution of LegalAliens from a professional company of migrant artists to an organisation running weekly applied theatre classes in Tottenham
- What prompted the Tottenham Project and how it grew from two people in a room to a company of sixteen preparing for a Jacksons Lane stage
-Ali in Wonder(Eng)land — how the idea emerged, and how the 2026 version has been rebuilt with a largely new group.
- Holding artistic rigour alongside the real complexity of a room where people are navigating insecure immigration status, mental health challenges, language barriers and a system that keeps moving the goalposts.
- Why comedy and absurdism are not ways of softening the brutality but a way in.

This episode considers what it means to make work that is both artistically ambitious and genuinely community led, and why those two things are not in opposition. Thank you Lara for your time and your generosity.

LegalAliens Theatre:
Website http://legalalienstheatre.com
Instagram @legalalienstheatre
Tickets for Ali in Wonder(Eng)land at Jacksons Lane: jacksonslane.org.uk

Applied Theatre Podcast:
Substack https://appliedtheatrepodcast.substack.com
Instagram @AppliedTheatrePod
Email [email protected]
Subscribe on Spotify, Apple & Google Podcasts and Youtube (w/subtitles) Applied Theatre Podcast

#theatre #appliedtheatre #appliedtheatrepodcast #podcast #migrantarts #legalalienstheatre

Subscribe on Substack, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube (with subtitles) – Applied Theatre Podcast

In this episode I speak with Maria Åberg, Artistic Director of ‘Projekt Utopia’, formerly Project Europa, an organisation working with migrant theatre makers from around the world to platform migrant imagination through the performing arts.

Maria reflects on the journey from directing on some of the UK's biggest stages, including the RSC and the National, to founding an organisation built on collective devising, multilingual practice and migrant-led artistry, and what prompted that shift during the pandemic.

We discuss:
– The decision to rebrand from Project Europa to Projekt Utopia, and why the original name was shrinking the space rather than opening it up
– Migrant imagination as both a topic and a methodology, and whether there is such a thing as a migrant dramaturgy or aesthetic
– Working with migrant communities during a period of explicit anti-migrant sentiment, and what it means to hold space for that reality within the room
– What institutions still don't understand about casting, visas and genuinely welcoming migrant artists
– The challenges of building governance structures that reflect an organisation's values rather than inherited, top-down models
– What's next for Projekt Utopia, including international touring and a long-term vision for what a fully migrant-centred cultural institution could look like

This episode considers what it means to make work from a place of hope without losing sight of the realities migrant artists are navigating, and why imaginative capacity born of migration may be one of the most undervalued creative resources in the industry today. Thank you Maria for your time.

Projekt Utopia:
Website - https://www.projektutopia.org
Instagram - @weareprojektutopia

Applied Theatre Podcast:
Substack - https://appliedtheatrepodcast.substack.com
Instagram - @AppliedTheatrePod
Email - [email protected]
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#theatre #appliedtheatre #appliedtheatrepodcast #podcast #migrantartists #projectutopia

Subscribe on Substack, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube (with subtitles) – Applied Theatre Podcast

In this episode I speak with Sulu LeoNimm, Executive Director and Joker at Theatre of the Oppressed NYC.

Sulu shares their journey from performer and theatre maker into applied practice rooted in the work of Augusto Boal, and reflects on what it means to use theatre as a tool to explore power, dialogue and collective action in contemporary contexts.

We discuss:

– The role of the Joker in facilitating forum theatre
– How Theatre of the Oppressed operates in New York City today
– Building work in collaboration with communities
– The relationship between artistry and social change
– The continued relevance of Boal’s techniques
– And the importance of goals driven practice in 2026

This episode considers how applied theatre continues to evolve in response to shifting political, social and cultural landscapes, and what it means to create work that is both rigorous and responsive. Thank you Sulu for your time.

Theatre of the Opressed NYC:
Website - https://www.tonyc.nyc
Instagram - @tonyc_action

Applied Theatre Podcast:

Substack - https://appliedtheatrepodcast.substack.com

Instagram - @AppliedTheatrePod

Email - [email protected]

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#theatre #appliedtheatre #appliedtheatrepodcast #podcast #theatreoftheoppressed #boal

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube (with subtitles) – Applied Theatre Podcast

In this episode, Shane Shambhu, (Creative Director of Altered Skin), Shireenah Ingram (Actor and founder of Red Lens) and I spoke about the creation of When We See Ourselves, a multidisciplinary theatre performance exploring intercultural relationships, diaspora, hierarchy and identity.

We reflected on how the piece began in 2019 as an inquiry into DNA, evolution and shared human origins, before developing into a deeply personal examination of anti Black sentiment within South Asian communities. Through a contemporary love story, the work engages with the legacy of eighteenth century botanist Carl Linnaeus and his racial classifications, questioning how historic systems of categorising human beings continue to shape present day prejudice and power structures.

Shane and Shireenah shared insight into their collaborative rehearsal process, built around a living script that moves fluidly between text, movement, music and design, drawing on Bharatanatyam and contemporary theatre practices. A layered and evolving work, this is a piece that invites audiences into reflection, connection and ongoing conversation.

We also explored what it means to define British theatre today, and who holds the authority to shape that definition.

When We See Ourselves tours in early 2026 with performances at:

Derby Theatre - 28th February

Proteus Creation Space in Basingstoke - 3rd March

Arena Theatre Wolverhampton - 5th March

Touchstones at Rochdale Ukrainian Club - 12th March.

Book Tickets: https://alteredskin.org/project/when-we-see-ourselves/

Altered Skins Links:
Website - https://alteredskin.org

Instagram - @alteredskincic

Applied Theatre Podcast:

X - @Apptheatrepod

Instagram - @AppliedTheatrePod

Email - [email protected]

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#theatre #appliedtheatre #appliedtheatrepodcast #podcast #alteredskin #Shaneshambhu

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube (with subtitles) – Applied Theatre Podcast

Chris Sonnex, Artistic Director of Cardboard Citizens, joins me to discuss how theatre can challenge inequality and create genuine pathways for people with lived experience of homelessness and poverty. From hostel tours to award winning films and now a new anthology, More Than One Story, Chris shares how the company continues to evolve, redefining what theatre can be and who gets to make it.

We explore Cardboard Citizens’ “garden model” of membership, where workshops, co-production forums and creative mentoring plant the seeds for long term growth. Chris talks about working with writers such as Malorie Blackman, Inua Ellams and Michelle de Swarte, and about giving new voices a national platform through open submissions and accessible opportunities.

https://cardboardcitizens.org.uk/whats-on/event/cardboard-citizens-presents-more-than-one-story/

The conversation also delves into trauma informed practice, exploring how artists and facilitators are trained to create safer spaces, manage boundaries and avoid becoming a “one stop shop” for participants’ wider crises. Chris reflects candidly on the challenges of leadership, the shifting responsibilities of an Artistic Director, and the importance of removing ego to future proof an organisation and its artists.

Thank you Chris for an inspiring discussion about creativity, care and community, and for reminding us that art is not just what happens on stage, but how we choose to work together.

Chris’s Links:
Website - https://cardboardcitizens.org.uk

Instagram - @cardboardcitz

Applied Theatre Podcast:

X - @Apptheatrepod

Instagram - @AppliedTheatrePod

Email - [email protected]

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#theatre #appliedtheatre #appliedtheatrepodcast #podcast #ChrisSonnex #CardboardCitizens

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube (w/subtitles) - Applied Theatre Podcast

Marc Brew, Internationally renowned and award winning disabled artist and Artistic Director of the Marc Brew Company, joins me to discuss his powerful new performance An Accident / A Life. Inspired by the car accident that changed his life 27 years ago, the work weaves dance, theatre and live projections to tell a deeply personal yet universal story of resilience, humour and intimacy. Developed in collaboration with Belgian Moroccan choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, the piece has grown through residencies, creative tasks and ongoing refinement, and will premiere at Sadler’s Wells East, London, 25 to 27 September 2025.

 Marc reflects on the challenges of performing semi-autobiographical material night after night, the importance of maintaining emotional honesty, and the role of humour in connecting with audiences. He shares how the work honours not only his survival but also the memories of friends who did not, creating a conversation with audiences about vulnerability, strength and care.

 My conversation with Marc also explores wider questions of inclusivity and opportunity for disabled artists, from training access to the need for more representative spaces in the arts. Looking ahead, Marc talks about future projects such as Boys Don't Dance, which challenges gender stereotypes for young audiences, while continuing to advocate for diversity and collaboration at the heart of his practice.

 If you want to experience this extraordinary performance in person, tickets for An Accident / A Life at Sadler’s Wells East, London, 25 to 27 September 2025, are available now. Don’t miss the chance to see Marc’s powerful story brought vividly to life on stage. Thank you Marc for your time.

Book tickets HERE!:

https://www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/marc-brew-sidi-larbi-cherkaoui-an-accident-a-life/

Marc’s links:

Website - marcbrew.com

Applied Theatre Podcast:

X - @Apptheatrepod

Instagram - @AppliedTheatrePod

Email - [email protected]

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#theatre #appliedtheatre #appliedtheatrepodcast #podcast #marcbrew #sadlerswellseast #dance

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple & Google Podcasts and YouTube (w/subtitles) - Applied Theatre Podcast

Professor Sarah Saddler explores her groundbreaking research on the role of Applied Theatre within corporate settings, particularly across India, South Africa, and the UAE. Drawing from her book Performing Corporate Bodies, she discusses how theatre techniques, such as role play and improvisation are used not just for team-building, but as tools to instil corporate values, promote behavioural development, and align employees with company ideologies.

Sarah challenges the traditional view of Applied Theatre as solely activist or liberatory, arguing that in corporate contexts, these methods often blur the lines between empowerment and control. Through ethnographic case studies, she highlights how theatre is employed in tech firms, luxury brands, and even post-apartheid workplaces sometimes reinforcing hierarchies, other times offering cathartic release or subtle resistance.

Our conversation unpacks how this evolving practice reshapes ideas of community, identity, and agency, particularly in neoliberal work environments. We chatted about navigating the emotional complexity for both facilitators and participants, raising significant questions about the ethics of theatrical interventions in profit-driven spaces. Thank you Sarah for sharing your thought-provoking research exploring the power and politics of Applied Performance in unexpected places.

BUY Sarah’s Book HERE!:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Performing-Corporate-Bodies-Multinational-Performance/dp/1032421428

Sarah’s links:

Website - https://baruch.cuny.edu/profiles/faculty/Sarah-Saddler

Applied Theatre Podcast:

X - @Apptheatrepod

Instagram - @AppliedTheatrePod

Email - [email protected]

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple & Google Podcasts and Youtube (w/subtitles) - Applied Theatre Podcast

#theatre #appliedtheatre #appliedtheatrepodcast #podcast #SarahSaddler #PerformingCorporateBodies

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple & Google Podcasts and YouTube (w/subtitles) - Applied Theatre Podcast

Mattea and Lydia form Balancing Act, a theatre company focused on playfulness and storytelling for all. They share their approach to devising theatre that creates inclusive, supportive spaces where participants—regardless of background, age, or experience—can express themselves freely.

They discuss the power of theatre in fostering community. With backgrounds in drama, psychology, Mattea and Lydia reflect on how play can be a tool for well-being, particularly for neurodivergent young people and older adults. Their work brings together diverse groups, from corporate professionals to retired women, emphasising that creativity is for everyone.

The duo shares heartwarming anecdotes of participants forming friendships, supporting each other, and embracing silliness as a form of self-expression. Ultimately, Balancing Act champions theatre as a socially prescribed necessity—an accessible, joyful space where everyone can benefit from play. Whether through improvisation, movement, or devised storytelling, their work proves that creativity has a profound impact on mental well-being. Thank you both for your time.

Balancing Act’s links:

Website - www.batheatre.com

Instagram: @batheatrearts

Applied Theatre Podcast:

X - @Apptheatrepod

Instagram - @AppliedTheatrePod

Email - [email protected]

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple & Google Podcasts and Youtube (w/subtitles) - Applied Theatre Podcast

#theatre #appliedtheatre #appliedtheatrepodcast #podcast #balancingact

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple & Google Podcasts and YouTube (w/subtitles) - Applied Theatre Podcast

Episode Summary

Dr. Luke Allder, an applied performance and visual artist practitioner, joins me to discuss the Attune Project, a large-scale research initiative exploring creativity and mental health in adolescents with adverse childhood experiences. Luke, based at the University of Kent, collaborates with a multidisciplinary team across Oxford, Leeds, and Falmouth to develop innovative approaches to youth mental health support.

Luke shares insights into various strands of delivery, where creative workshops—including collage, animation, and dance—were used to engage young people in discussions about their mental health, identifying key protective and risk factors. These findings informed the development of "Validating Voices," a professional toolkit designed to help educators, charities, and healthcare workers foster meaningful conversations with young people about validation and well-being. Throughout our time together, Luke shared his challenges and successes of integrating creative methodologies into mental health support. The conversation highlights the power of creativity, validation, and lived experience in supporting young people through adversity. Thank you Luke for your time.

Lukes links:

Website - https://www.attuneproject.com/https/wwwattuneprojectcom/what-is-validating-voices

https://kar.kent.ac.uk/100356/

Applied Theatre Podcast:

X - @Apptheatrepod

Instagram - @AppliedTheatrePod

Email - [email protected]

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#theatre #applied theatre #podcast #LUKE ALLDER #ATTUNE PROJECT