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Stepping Out Theatre Silver Anniversary Year (1997 - 2022)

This year our theatre company celebrates 25 years of producing live theatre. In that time, we have produced 101 live theatre shows (a few of them live online during Covid lockdowns).

To mark this special anniversary, we decided to make our third, and most ambitious trip yet to the greatest theatre festival in the world. In August 2022, we took no fewer than SIX productions to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Six months of planning and preparation, with previews in London, Clevedon and Bristol led up to 48 performances of our six shows in just 9 days in Edinburgh over the first two weeks of the Fringe Festival.

A dedicated 24 strong team of Stepping Out Artists and Ambassadors, alongside our production partners Harpy Productions and Pear Productions, filled the stages and worked the streets to ensure audiences, making invaluable connections with other companies doing similar work in the UK and elsewhere, and enjoying the thrill of being immersed in the greatest theatre event on the planet.

Here's to the next 25 years.

A unique theatre company

Formed in 1997, based in Bristol and with over one hundred productions to its credit, Stepping Out Theatre is the country's leading mental health theatre group. It has produced a wide range of work on mental health themes and is open to people who have used mental health services and their allies.

Mark Rylance, Patron

"The work Stepping Out Theatre is doing should be supported by all interested in a society that is healthy. Stepping Out understands and does not shy away from the possibility that theatre, the ancient art of these islands North West of Europe, is a transformative and healing activity which brings joy into people's lives. If you want to hear something true, go and hear what Stepping Out Theatre are saying. I only found myself in theatre, and I hear that Stepping Out is helping other people do the same. I have great hopes for this company and deep respect for what they are doing right now."

Next Show

The Theatre of War Project

The Theatre Of War Project (2nd May 2022 - March 2026)

An online reading of Natalya Vorozhbit's Bad Roads was the first of a series of Ukrainian plays to be read by Stepping Out Theatre in partnership with Worldwide Ukrainian Playreadings, the Playwrights Theatre of Kyiv and the Centre for International Theatre Development. In particular, we are building a partnership with the writers of the Playwrights Theatre of Kyiv, and four playwrights from the group joined us live on the evening of May 2nd.

Supporting art and culture in Ukraine is a vital strand in supporting their independence as a country. All monies raised through these events goes directly to theatre artists in Ukraine and the charities they nominate who are supporting the war effort.

Theatre of War Project Logo Design - Liudmyla Tymoshenko

Please consider supporting future events both online and staged in this initiative, which we will keep you updated about here.

LONG LIVE THE FREE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE!