In this month's episode, Carl Dunnington is in conversation with Patrick O'Sullivan, Head of Creative Learning at Mayflower and MAST theatres in Southampton.

This conversation gives us an insight into running an engagement/participation department in a professional working theatre. Patrick is currently writing a 3 year business strategy and shaping his vision for his new team of 13 colleagues to ensure more people engage with the venue... "bringing more people into the venue who might not consider drama/theatre as something for them!" 

Patrick is all about 'evolution not revolution' and is working hard with his new team by listening and 'giving a voice to ideas.'

"If you go in [to a theatre] and have a conversation with someone working in participation they will definitively see themselves in you... this was how we all got in ourselves, some adults creating some programme that existed in order to benefit you..." Patrick O'Sullivan.