What started out as a gesture of welcoming homeless people into the theatre to help prevent drug usage, has now evolved into an industry-leading programme that has supported hundreds of vulnerable adults across the city.
Our Space was founded by Theatre Royal Plymouth (TRP) in September 2009 with the aim of providing vulnerable individuals with free, regular and meaningful activity that contributes to recovery and rehabilitation. Reaching adults with varying backgrounds and needs including lived experience of homelessness, mental health issues, substance misuse, reoffending and social isolation, Our Space uses drama as a tool to build confidence, whilst learning theatre skills in a fun and supportive environment. Funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and Veterans’ Foundation, weekly sessions take place at TRP’s production and learning centre, TR2, along with community hubs sessions out in the community. In 2018, the project became a social prescription through the Wolesley Trust, working with 28 primary care providers across Plymouth. Social prescribing directs people to activities and groups in the local community to aid their social and emotional needs and overall health and wellbeing.
Even now, Our Space is still evolving, but the project centres around four key strands of work; Productions, Armed Forces, Prison and Probation, and Community.
The Armed Forces element, specifically funded by the Veterans’ Foundation, provides creative opportunities and weekly workshops for service personnel, veterans and long-term wounded, injured and sick. The prison and probation strand, in partnership with the Ministry of Justice, holds drama workshops in HMP Channings Wood and other partner services, while the community group works with adults with multiple and complex needs offering theatre taster sessions and residencies. Productions is predominantly made up of longer-standing members who attend regular collaborative, skills development sessions to devise and present bespoke ‘show and share’ style performances at the end of each term.
Becky Ormrod, Our Space Programme Manager: “This is such a unique and valuable programme that provides a safe refuge for members where they feel welcome and can socialise with others with similar backgrounds or interests. It offers routine and stability, which can often be lacking in their outside lives, and gives them an increased sense of value and self-worth.
“To celebrate 15 years is phenomenal, and we thank every member, every practitioner and every partner for their continued support which has enabled this vital outlet to endure and thrive.
“We’ve seen first-hand the life-changing transformations the project has had on those in our city, and with the need becoming greater, we look forward to growing and extending the Our Space offering to reach even more people in the years ahead.
Our Space would not be possible without the support of the National Lottery Community Fund. In 2023, the programme successfully secured a further four years of funding, which runs until 2027.
For more information, visit https://theatreroyal.com/ourspace.
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