Theatre for a Change kicked off the festive season in London on Thursday 7th December by raising our Voices for Change with our wonderful friends old and new.

A lovely space in Farringdon was filled with a huge Christmas tree, a fantastic group of people, fun, laughter, generosity, music, and a collective determination to support and empower vulnerable and marginalised women and girls, particularly those affected by child marriage.

The evening began with an incredibly powerful Interactive Theatre performance around intimate partner violence. This gave the audience the chance to gain an insight into our unique use of theatre in communities worldwide, discuss what they had seen, and get involved by using our innovative touch tag methodology to take on the main character and explore potential solutions – participation is key to everything we do.

A moving firsthand account of our recent Interactive Theatre for Justice work preventing child marriage in Bangladesh followed from our Interactive Theatre Programme Coordinator Ryan Borcherding, along with a film showing an Interactive Theatre performance by the group of young change makers whom Ryan trained.

Then it was time to get bidding, with the dynamic duo of our Ambassador Toby Jones, and our Founder and Executive Director Patrick Young, brilliantly hosting a live auction full of exciting and unusual lots. A silent auction of lots perfect for Christmas presents ran all night.

The evening was beautifully brought to a close with festive songs sung by several members of the acclaimed choir the Adam Street Singers.

We are thrilled to announce that the event raised nearly £5,000 – £4,811.25 to be exact! – for our work, a resounding success for us to round off the year with. If you would like to raise your Voice for Change with ours and support our work, please click here.

A huge thank you to everyone who came from far and wide to support us, and to those who donated so generously – we sincerely appreciate your partnership.

We would also like to thank:

Our Ambassadors Toby Jones and Joan Iyiola

Our honoured guest His Excellency Kena Mphonda – Malawi High Commissioner to the UK

Ross Willsher for volunteering to take these amazing photos of the evening for us, along with donating a family photo shoot for the live auction

Our dedicated Volunteer Ambassador Olivia Chappell, and the Adam Street Singers

Leah Erdos our superstar event volunteer, and Varshini Pichemuthu our volunteer greeter

Our talented volunteer performers from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama – Ben Gunn, Nell Guy, Miranda Higgins and Javier Melanchthon

Everyone who very generously donated live auction and silent auction lots:

Gayle Chong Kwan, Nine Circles Design, Finiks, The African Waistcoat Company, Heather Griffin Art, FHH Accessories, Salon London, Tristan Baker for Runaway Entertainment, Lilli Geissendorfer, Dario Fusco, Emma Warren Thomas, Beaufort & Blake London, the Bluebird Tea Co, Helen and Danielle Daniel-Young, and an anonymous donor.

Thank you to the Free Word Centre for hosting us.

Yours Occasionally for the lovely event decorations.

We can’t wait to hold more events bringing our friends together for change in 2018, watch this space!