What Collective Encounters does

Collective Encounters is a UK-registered arts charity (Charity Number 1105790) founded in 2004 in North Liverpool, applying Theatre for Social Change methodology to deliver participatory creative workshops, co-created performances, and community-based research. The organization operates a portfolio of interlocking programmes rather than a unified software product, including regular performance groups (Adult Theatre for Social Change company, Women in Action, Online Drama Group), youth projects (Arts Adventures, Where You're At, Beat the System), parent and carer projects (Black Maternal Health Project, Parent-Baby Co-Production Group, Everyday Creativity for People Living with Dementia), and Creativity Training for Frontline Workers. Underlying methodology — participatory and applied theatre techniques such as improvisation, forum theatre, and verbatim theatre — centers participant narratives and lived experience as the primary content source rather than a proprietary technology platform.

The business model is hybrid and mission-driven. Most workshops and regular sessions are free at the point of use, supplemented by 'pay what you can' performance tickets and modest professional training fees. The organization primarily earns income through donations, charitable trust and lottery grants (notably the National Heritage Lottery Fund for the 2025 Digital Archive project), and public sector commissioning (Liverpool City Council for the Community Champions Programme). Distribution is community-led and event-driven: programs are delivered directly through community venues across Liverpool City Region, partner theatres (Unity Theatre, Everyman Theatre, The Bluecoat), and online via Zoom, reaching over 2,000 people annually through hundreds of workshops and live performances.

The organization is led by Co-Artistic Director Abi Horsfield with theatre maker Joanne Tremarco, supported by a small team of 9 employees and a Board of Trustees. Strategic academic partnerships with Liverpool John Moores University and University of Liverpool underpin research-intensive projects. In 2025, the organization launched a Digital Archive preserving 21 years of theatre for social change work, alongside the 'Radical Retrospectives' anniversary programme, signaling formalization of its institutional knowledge base and its position as a regional anchor in participatory arts.

Name

Collective Encounters

Legal name

Collective Encounters

Website

https://collective-encounters.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Collective Encounters is a Liverpool-based arts charity founded in 2004 that uses Theatre for Social Change methodology to deliver free workshops, co-created performances, and training for underserved communities across Liverpool City Region, reaching over 2,000 people annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Performing Arts

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fringe & Experimental Performing Arts (MPAGABAI), Community & Amateur Theatre (MPAGABAD)

Keywords

• Participatory theatre
• Theatre for social change
• Community arts
• Creative workshops
• Arts charity

Headquarters

HQ city

Liverpool

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Funding: The organization is an arts charity that relies on donations from the public to support its artistic programme. One-off and regular donations can be made via PayPal or credit/debit card.
2. Workshop and Training Fees: Some training programs and creative courses generate revenue through participant fees. Professional development training for frontline workers is offered as a paid service.
3. Ticket Sales and Performance Revenue: Selected performances offer ticketed entry with 'pay what you can' pricing model to ensure accessibility while generating revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Collective Encounters is a Theatre for Social Change arts charity that delivers participatory theatre programmes for community participants across Liverpool. Its core offerings include regular performance groups (Adult Theatre for Social Change company, Women in Action, Online Drama Group), projects for young people (Arts Adventures, Where You're At, Beat the System), projects for parents and carers (Black Maternal Health Project, Parent-Baby Co-Production Group, Everyday Creativity for People Living with Dementia), Creativity Training for Frontline Workers, Short Drama Courses, Creative Communities neighbourhood programmes, Creative Participatory Research, and a Digital Archive. Together these services reach over 2,000 people annually through hundreds of workshops and live performances.

Product overview

Collective Encounters is a Theatre for Social Change company offering a portfolio of interconnected programmes rather than a unified software product. Its core offerings include regular performance groups (Adult Theatre for Social Change company, Women in Action, Online Drama Group), projects for young people (Arts Adventures, Where You're At, Beat the System), and projects for parents and carers (Black Maternal Health Project, Parent-Baby Co-Production Group, Everyday Creativity for People Living with Dementia). Supporting services include Creativity Training for Frontline Workers, Short Drama Courses, and Creative Communities neighbourhood programmes. The organisation also maintains a Digital Archive and conducts Creative Participatory Research. These programmes collectively aim to build power through creative workshops, co-created theatre, and research, reaching over 2000 people annually through hundreds of workshops and live performances.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adult Theatre for Social Change company A regular performance group meeting fortnightly on Saturdays that uses theatre disciplines to explore social and political issues, designed for both beginners and experienced performers to gain confidence through performance.
• Women in Action A creative group led by theatre maker Joanne Tremarco, meeting weekly on Tuesdays to explore themes relevant to women today through creative activities, training and discussion, currently working towards a performance on women's healthcare.
• Online Drama Group Monthly Zoom workshops for adults aged 18+ led by Co-Artistic Director Abi Horsfield, using creative methods including games, discussions, improvisation and cabaret scenes to explore social issues and connect participants online.
• Arts Adventures Creative projects for young people offering artistic exploration and development opportunities.
• Where You're At A project for young people exploring social issues through creative engagement.
• Beat the System A project for young people focused on systemic issues through theatre and creative methods.
• Black Maternal Health Project A project addressing maternal health disparities for Black women, including creative workshops, exhibitions, and peer-informed guidance materials developed in collaboration with Liverpool John Moores University.
• Parent-Baby Co-Production Group Support and creative activities for parents and babies, co-producing resources and initiatives with participants.
• Everyday Creativity for People Living with Dementia Creative sessions and support for people living with dementia and their carers.
• Creativity Training for Frontline Workers Training programs for frontline workers and volunteers to incorporate creative methods into their practice, including workshops and professional development opportunities.
• Short Drama Courses Accredited and non-accredited short drama courses for skill development and creative engagement.
• Creative Communities Community-based creative engagement programs bringing theatre and arts activities to local neighbourhoods across Liverpool City Region.
• Collective Encounters Digital Archive A living digital library archiving 21 years of theatre for social change work, including project documentation, cultural memory resources, heritage police content, podcasts, and stories from participants.
• Arts for Social Change Showcase Learning and networking events celebrating arts for social change, including performances and knowledge sharing.
• Creative Participatory Research Research initiatives using participatory theatre methods to investigate social issues and drive policy change.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60% of regular participants reported developing new skills including performance, improvisation, public speaking, research, and group work
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Unity TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey venue partner hosting Women in Action weekly sessions, performance events, and exhibitions. Co-producing Stage Left exploring Unity Theatre's radical history. Long-standing relationship as host venue.
• Liverpool John Moores UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner collaborating on Black Maternal Health project, creating connection between historical research into enslaved midwives and contemporary maternal health disparities.
• Everyman TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner hosting Creative Recovery: Community Building Bridges event and performances. Partner in Merseyside Creative Recovery Network exploring performing arts in addiction recovery.
• The BluecoatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural venue partner hosting Archive Launch event as part of Radical Retrospectives Festival celebrating 21 years of Collective Encounters work.
• Open AwardssupportingOthersAccredited awarding body for Collective Encounters' training courses. Complaints policies reference Open Awards' Malpractice and Maladministration Policy for accredited training.
• University of LiverpoolsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner for Voices on the Streets project, utilizing research from University of Liverpool's English Department to create audio installation exploring Liverpool City Centre.
• Independent Theatre CouncilsupportingOthersProfessional membership organization for theatre practitioners. Collective Encounters is a member, indicating commitment to professional standards and industry best practices.
• Living Wage FoundationsupportingOthersAccredited Living Wage Employer, demonstrating commitment to fair pay for all staff and freelancers exceeding statutory minimum wage requirements.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• Thickspace: Bristol-based collective producing live art and community-engaged practice. Comparable participatory arts methodology and grassroots community engagement approach.
• Clean Break Theatre Company: UK theatre company producing work on women affected by the criminal justice system using co-created, participatory methods. Strong parallel to Collective Encounters' Women in Action group and social-issue focus.
• Cardboard Citizens: London-based applied theatre company working with people affected by homelessness and social exclusion using participatory theatre methods. Direct methodological parallel to Collective Encounters' Theatre for Social Change practice.
• Open Theatre: London-based applied theatre company working with people with learning disabilities through co-created performance. Uses similar participatory theatre techniques and serves marginalized communities.
• People's Palace Projects: London-based organization producing arts projects with communities both in the UK and internationally. Comparable participatory methodology and focus on social impact through co-created performance.
• Mind the Gap: Leeds-based applied theatre company producing professional work with learning disabled and non-disabled artists. Highly comparable participatory/community-engaged theatre model with similar social-change mission.
• Big House Theatre Company: London-based applied theatre company working with young people at risk. Uses drama-based interventions with similar participant-centred methodology and focus on social outcomes.
• Theatre in Prisons and Probation (TiPP): UK organization championing arts practice in criminal justice settings. Comparable applied theatre methodology and social-change orientation with focus on marginalized populations.

Others

• Unity Theatre Liverpool: Liverpool-based venue partner of Collective Encounters. Serves as a host venue and co-producer but operates primarily as a presenting venue rather than a producing community theatre company.

Regional players

• Heart of Glass: St Helens-based community arts organization producing collaborative and socially engaged art in the North West of England. Operates in the same regional geography with similar community-led methodology.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/post
• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/collective-encounters-theatre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Collective Encounters