We are a company of black women of Afrikan/Caribbean descent who use various creative forms, such as playback theatre and forum theatre to explore a range of themes through storytelling and interactive workshops.
We are committed through our work to encourage the empowerment of those who have historically been denied a voice, and to enhance opportunities for expression and connection for audiences to share collective and individual stories.
We acknowledge that by sharing our stories we tap into the griot (Afrikan storytelling) which is grounded in our ancestral heritage.
We are based in Bristol and are the UK’s only black women’s playback theatre company.
What is Playback Theatre?
Playback theatre is a unique form of interactive, improvisational theatre where audience members share personal stories / moments, which are then immediately brought to life by company members using drama, music and cloth. Playback theatre creates a space for storytelling, empathy, connection, community building and self reflection allowing for personal discovery and transformation.
What is Forum Theatre?
Forum theatre is an interactive drama technique where actors perform scenes depicting a real life challenge, enabling audience interaction to explore different options for dealing with a problem or issue. During the performance the company encourages the audience to provide alternative outcomes and solutions to the challenge. Forum theatre creates a space for storytelling, empathy, connection, community building and self reflection allowing for personal discovery and transformation.
What we offer…
Collectively Breathing Fire performers have a wealth of additional experience outside of our playback performance skills. Our backgrounds include professional experience in the fields of children’s services, health and social care, community activism, mentoring, volunteering, youth work, counselling, equality and diversity, teaching, training and project management. We bring skills from these roles to our work within Breathing Fire. It is important to us that we communicate and interact with our audiences and workshop participants in ways that value their life experiences.
PERFORMANCES
Breathing Fire performances are unique events which are created in collaboration with audiences through the stories they share.
Audiences have expressed how they have felt listened to, uplifted, moved and connected with others, through sharing life experiences and trusting us with their previously untold stories.
WORKSHOPS
Breathing Fire workshops provide a space for fun, creativity, confidence building, and offer the opportunity to explore ideas and themes using drama activities. Participants have found our workshops to be an empowering, thought provoking and enriching experience. No previous experience of drama is required.
