NonSuch Studios

A community-led creative programme that celebrates place, identity, and shared experience — using theatre and music to turn personal stories into powerful collective performance.

Project: Stage the City

Project Type: Community-led creative development & performance programme

Role: Associate Director & Facilitator

Duration: Two-year programme (pilot phase 2025; future development planned)

Location: Nottingham, UK

Context & Contribution

Stage the City is a two-year programme developed by NonSuch Studios, focused on building creative confidence within communities across Bulwell, Sneinton and The Meadows through the creation of new theatre performances that celebrate local stories and identities.

Working as Associate Director and Facilitator, I supported the development and delivery of community-led performance work, combining musical theatre, storytelling and facilitation to enable participants to shape and share their own narratives.

Creative Focus — Our City in Song

As part of the project, I developed the concept Our City in Song — an eclectic musical showcase

built from community-devised storytelling and reimagined musical theatre. Participants shared

personal memories and experiences, which were shaped into short spoken pieces and used to inspire

rewritten musical theatre songs, transforming local voices into collective performance.

 

The pilot phase took place in The Meadows, working with a community group at Arkwright

Meadows Community Gardens to create The Meadows Musical, shared publicly in May 2025.

Programme Scope

Community-devised musical theatre and storytelling

Facilitation-led creative development

Multiple community performances across Nottingham

Ongoing development towards future large-scale events

Creative Team

Director: Caroline Rowland

Associate Director & Facilitator: Ben Johnson

Assistant Director: Laura Savage-Wheeden