Community
We inspire communities to connect to arts and culture in the places they call home.
We co-design programmes that support groups and individuals to express themselves, connect with others, and embrace the numerous health and wellbeing benefits we know being creative can offer.
Folio & Young Carers
We have been delivering workshops for Young Carers in partnership with Carers Trust since 2015, and this is work we develop and deliver year on year.
CREATIVE MENTORING PROGRAMME
Young Carers aged 16-25 interested in creative careers are matched with industry professionals specialising in their area of interest. Through 1-2-1 mentoring sessions, participants are supported to build their skills, knowledge and confidence, empowering them to take their next steps into the creative industries.
Applications for our next mentoring cohort will open later in 2026. If you are interested in learning more about the programme, please email Helen Morley (helen@foliotheatre.co.uk) to find out more.
Folio & The Harbour Project
We run monthly creative workshops with the women’s group at the Harbour Project in Swindon.
As part of our early workshops we worked with local poet, Louisa Adjoa Parker, to explore poetry, in response to the theme of nature. Louisa was then commissioned to write a short poem directly inspired by the group’s ideas, as well as her experience of the workshop itself. We worked with the group to produce a film of Louisa’s poem, ‘Under a Turquoise Sky’.
In 2025-2026, the group will work with Wiltshire playwright, Florence Espeut-Nickless.
Feedback
“You made me feel so happy. Thank you”
“Thank you very much. This activity is helpful for us. Sometimes we need enjoy, funny time. In this way we can escape our problem.”
“I’m not that kind of person. I’m amazed I did that”
“I am comfortable. I feel better”
“I feel very happy today. Today very needed. Thank you so much.”
“Relaxed. Happy. Laughing. Enjoying friends.”
Folio & older adults
In 2025, in partnership with Wiltshire Creative & Silver Salisbury, Folio launched a new workshop programme for Over 60s with an interest in writing for performance.
Led by local playwright Florence Espeut-Nickless, participants were supported to write an original monologue for stage, with the resulting monologues performed at Salisbury Playhouse in January 2026.
Future projects will be announced here.
Previous projects
WORK WITH WILTSHIRE’S GRTB COMMUNITIES:
In 2025 we piloted, in partnership with Floaty Boat & Wiltshire Council, a series of workshops with members of the Boating and Travelling communities in Wiltshire. These workshops were great fun and we hope to return with a longer programme next year.
“When I arrived I was in a low, winter, mood, apprehensive about what was to come. Now I feel happy, connected to new people and grinning from ear to ear. Can’t wait to do it again” – Participant, GRTB community
MAKE IT LOCAL
We recently piloted a workshop programme ‘Make it Local’ for communities across Wiltshire. This was delivered free of charge, supported by People’s Post Code Lottery, to emerging artists (mobilising the rural freelance workforce) and adult participants (looking to be creatively upskilled), employing a Wiltshire team to support delivery.
This programme included:
- Workshops for emerging theatre artists, offering a practical workshop that empowers and equips young theatre makers with the confidence and tools to deliver exciting theatre to their local communities
- Workshops with local professional artists looking at how to create and maintain a career outside of a big city
- Workshops for the wider community interested in creative skill development, hosted at village halls and over zoom.
If you are interested in having a conversation with us around any of our engagement work or workshop programmes please contact the Helen at helen@foliotheatre.co.uk.