Theatre as an Approach to Participation & Catalyst for Change
We know that the people closest to the issues are best placed to shape the solutions. Recently, this has been powerfully demonstrated through our participatory policymaking project in Kensington & Chelsea, using Legislative Theatre. This initiative has already led to real change in the lives of people experiencing homelessness and in the workings of the council.
Watch our short video showcasing the process and the changes that have already begun.
Why Temporary Accommodation?
Temporary accommodation is at crisis levels in London. 2024 figures reveal that at least one in 50 Londoners are living in temporary accommodation. While we work towards long-term solutions to end homelessness, we must also address the realities of those experiencing it right now. How do we improve their experience of temporary accommodation? How do we make sure they are heard? And, most crucially, how do residents and council leaders take joint action?
Using Theatre to Drive Policy Change
Legislative Theatre is an innovative approach that uses storytelling, performance, and creative problem-solving to explore social issues and co-create policy solutions.
For this project Groundswell worked closely with lead LT practitioners Katy Rubin and LaToyah Gill, with our own Learning & Development Manager, Sharon Clint.
Sharon said: ‘I learnt so much from the experience. I watched people understand the challenges that people were facing, I was stunned at how quickly we were able to bond, share stories and create scenes.’
This project saw temporary accommodation families and Housing Options teams take to the stage at The Tabernacle Theatre, where they performed scenes based on real-life experiences. These performances sparked discussions with an audience that included senior council staff, councillors, and fellow residents. Following discussion, audience members joined the residents and council staff onstage to test new policy ideas in real time, later drafting these into proposals.
The result? Concrete commitments from Kensington & Chelsea’s leadership to make the following changes:
- Improved accessibility of the Temporary Accommodation Team for residents in need.
- More staff resources to enhance the triage process and ensure better support at the first point of contact.
- A review of bureaucratic barriers, including simplifying existing systems and forms.
- Exploration of new recruitment practices that recognise and value lived experience.
Dan Hawthorn, Executive Director of Housing and Social Investment, reflected on the experience: “It was challenging at times, but I got a huge amount out of seeing and thinking about the range of constructive suggestions that everyone made.”
Real Change, Real Commitment
At the end of the performance, a Policy Team each made pledges to implement or make progress on the proposed changes within six weeks. Since then, we’ve already seen positive steps forward.
Councillor Claire Simmonds, highlighted the importance of this engagement: “It is really important to hear directly from our residents about their ideas for improvement and to better understand the pressures that Council staff are under in the face of ever-growing demand.”
With thanks
Thank you to everyone who took part, and let’s keep building a future where no one has to endure the uncertainty of temporary accommodation alone.