Changing Stories is built around the idea that we all have stories that we like to share; stories that define who we are.  Changing Stories draws on these stories, and encourages participants to take control of them, share them and change them.

Changing Stories workshops develop participants’ theatre improvisation and devising skills, creative writing skills, and acting skills; they learned to play instruments, compose original music, write lyrics and perform live together as an ensemble. The project is designed to equip participants with the language of the creative arts so that they can legitimately speak about the life experiences that define who they are.  

Changing Stories is a practical articulation of TiPP’s mission to provide opportunities for some of the country’s most disadvantaged groups to benefit from high quality participatory arts. You can get an idea about the work we undertook by watching this video:

Changing Stories: Epilogue was a symposium that we staged in HMP Thorn Cross in April, 2019.  The symposium showcased some of the work that had been made, demonstrated our working methods and provided attendees with an opportunity to gain first-hand experience of participation in a creative arts workshop.  

Delegates watched a short performance written with the men of HMP Lancaster Farms, listened to music performed by men from HMP Thorn Cross and then moved on to participate in a series of short workshops, where (amongst other things) they learned how to play the ukulele, drew a self-portrait and composed a poem. One delegate said “This was amazing.I got a chance to talk to residents here and the play made my cry! Many thanks to everyone involved!” There is a short video detailing the conference below.