Over the course of nine workshops, theatre writer Brian Mullin and director Vicky Moran will guide you through writing and performance exercises that draw on your personal opinions, experiences, and imagination. And here’s the exciting part: the work you devise will be used to write a play script about the past and present of care.

The play will reveal the experiences of young people in care today, as well as those who lived in the Foundling Hospital – Britain’s first care home – in the 1700s and 1800s. The script will reflect the honest opinions and experiences of care-experienced young people.

This is an excellent opportunity to shape the creation of a play script; to learn about theatre making and stories of care in the past; and most importantly, to have fun! No previous experience is needed – just an openness to working and creating together. You will have opportunities to share about yourself, but you can share as much or little as you want.

Theatre-making workshops

The workshops will run on Thursday evenings at Coram from 5.30-8.30pm (Coram Campus, 41 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AZ). One workshop (4 October) will take place on a Wednesday at London Metropolitan Archives (40 Northampton Rd, London EC1R 0HB). The workshop dates and times are below. Please note that we are accepting sign ups to this project up until the third session on Thursday 21 September:

  • Thursday 7 September (5.30-8.30pm)
  • Thursday 14 September (5.30-8.30pm)
  • Thursday 21 September (5.30-8.30pm)
  • Thursday 28 September (5.30-8.30pm)
  • Thursday 5 October (5.30-8.30pm)
  • Thursday 12 October (5.30-8.30pm)
  • Thursday 26 October (5.30-8.30pm)
  • Thursday 2 November (5.30-8.30pm)
  • Thursday 9 November (5.30-8.30pm)

Food will be provided at each workshop, and expenses for travel to and from the venue will be reimbursed where a receipt is provided.

This project will lead to a second project, when a staged sharing of the play is produced.

Sign-ups are now closed, but please email mikey.lynam@coram.org.uk if you’re interested in any future projects.

The Theatre-Making Project is part of the Voices Through Time: The Story of Care programme, made possible by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.