Working with Adults
Our work with the homeless community in Liverpool is continuing through a new accredited programme to be delivered with the Whitechapel Centre. This will build on the exciting work we carried out through Songs for Silenced Voices.

Our programme with adults, in particular the over 50s continues with a new collaborative project, Now and Then. For more information on Now and Then visit the News page.

Collective Encounter’s Theatre Facilitator, Abi Horsfield talks about Songs from the Streets; a year long project training 5 homeless people in theatre facilitation skills.


26th July 2010: The group are going from strength to strength. Two of the group facilitated a workshop at the Whitechapel today with a small group of homeless people. I attended a really intersting meeting with homless community workers this week. Over the next few months we will be touring Liverpool hostels with the group, and our trainees will be delivering lots of drama with their peers!

16th June 2010: We have two new group members, Alistair and Alex. The theatre facilitation training has really kicked in. Our next goal will involve the group running workshops in hostels. Also, en route for OCN accreditation….

25th May 2010: Very well received show at the Liverpool City Council's Homeless Stakeholder's Conference!! Emma and Bernie came off stage wanting to do it again and again!! I think it has been a cathartic experience. They are adamant that they should leave their stories in the past. They now want to create piece about moving on from homelessness……great stuff.
Bernie said…“I found closure on my past. It was difficult to put across how scared and at the same time how brave I was for leaving. I think people were shocked at what can happen in a marriage, also I thought they realised that everyone has their own stories of how they became homeless. What I would like to get out of the drama group is my confidence back and to help others achieve what I have done”.

Emma said…."To begin with it was really nerve racking, but it was really good as well as I was able to share my story with other people and to show people there is bad sides of life, but getting through the bad times makes me stronger. Performing for the audience was good because it actually made them sit back and take notice of what we were saying to them. The look on their faces was amazing, as some people might have felt it was just a story but it wasn’t. I was nervous having Dic come in because I didn’t know him, it was like making new friends again. I felt relief when I’d done the show and I’d been able to get it out in the open. I felt proud because I was able to share experiences with people”

12th May 2010: The group have decided they need me on stage with them!! This has been such a great learning experience for the working team and the group. Everyone has put their hearts and souls into it. They are starting to get very nervous. 5th May 2010: Composer, Patrick Dineen has written a beautiful number to top and tail the show.

28th April 2010: Costumer Designer, Steve Denton and writer Dic Edwards worked with the group today. Bernie and Emma loved working with these two pros.

22nd April 2010: We have spent the first few weeks devising a 10-minute show for Liverpool City Council’s Homeless Stakeholder’s on 25th May at the LACE in Sefton Park. It has been a whirlwind beginning with Bernie and Emma rising to the challenge. The show is about their own journeys in and out of homelessness. It has been emotionally very difficult for the both of them, bringing up very painful memories.