Celebrating 30 years

We are excited to celebrate Immediate Theatre’s 30th birthday in October 26

Sharing Stories. Shaping Futures. Healthy Communities. See some of our stories below ↓

Immediate Theatre brings people together to share stories that matter. Through sharing stories participants grow in confidence, learn to listen and build connection. By amplifying lived experiences, we help our community find their voice and develop advocacy and belonging.

Through participatory theatre and creative learning, we support individuals to develop new skills and open pathways to education, employment and leadership, helping shape stronger and more inclusive futures.

Our welcoming spaces support wellbeing, reduce isolation and encourage inclusion, participation and dialogue. Our participants help shape fairer, more inclusive approaches to health and wellbeing for themselves and their communities.

  • Shekeila Scarlett

    I started my journey with Immediate Theatre as a participant in 2008. I had disengaged from education and after-school activities and my mum thought it would be good for me to do something where I could learn about self-confidence and self-worth, so I came along to a session with my best friend and from there I never looked back. I later joined and became Chair of the Youth Board, before joining as a Trustee in 2018 when I was 18.

  • Jo Carter

    It all began at a kitchen table, with Jo Carter and Clara Onyemere imagining a kind of theatre rooted in the right here, right now of Hackney life.  From the start, they knew that sharing stories and imagining change could make a difference.  Jo had grown up being given the tools to speak and create in the world of professional theatre and she recognised that many in the community hadn’t been afforded that same chance.

  • Alaine

    Image of a young lady looking at the camera and smiling

    At Immediate Theatre, Alaine found something she hadn’t experienced in school; a space where young people could speak freely, explore ideas, and be taken seriously. Through each rehearsal and performance, she learned to express her own story  through her voice, her perspective, her imagination. She felt seen and she felt encouraged to be exactly who she was becoming.

  • Janet Evans

    A woman with a large black hat looking at the camera and smiling

    Janet has always believed creativity doesn’t have an age limit. Now at 80, she continues to perform, write, sing and dance with Immediate Theatre. From puppet theatre and community performances to the Hackney Social Radio during the pandemic, every project has offered a new opportunity to learn and grow.

  • Madelaine

    A group of young women in white T-shirts smiling to the camera. They are sat in the audience seats at a theatre

    Emailing from Berlin, they asked if they could join late. That simple yes mattered more than they realised.

    At 25, they were navigating a period where life felt relentless. Outside the rehearsal room, expectations were clear: be resilient, cope, get on with it. Inside Immediate Theatre, something different happened.

Birthday Events and Happenings...

Upcoming birthday events

  • Exposure | Still Here: Under Pressure

    A group of young people sitting in a row - there is text over the image saying Exposure Monday - Saturday 15th August

    Join Immediate Theatre’s youth theatre for their summer showing of Still Here: Under Pressure at Chat's Palace on the 14th and 15th of August for 3 exceptional shows performed by young people as part of their summer holiday project, Exposure.

    Showtimes are as followed

    Friday 14th - 2pm and 7pm

    Saturday 15th - 5pm