Our Story
Night Light Theatre CIC provide arts for wellbeing programmes and create theatre with/ and for hard to reach audiences throughout the North of England, in forensic mental health settings, prisons, hospitals, pupil referral units, rehabilitation centres and in the community. Co-production and collaboration is at the core of all we do. Through our creative practice, we hope to: break down barriers, build healthy relationships, connect, inspire, and promote hope and positive change through embodiment, play, storytelling and performance. Our work promotes health and wellbeing by encouraging connection and creativity to reduce loneliness and isolation. We offer a wide range of: workshops, performance events, training and consultations.
“We understand the power and potential of Theatre and Creativity to make a positive impact on people’s lives and their communities, we pride ourselves on creating and sustaining a positive and effective social environment and believe that the skills learnt, practiced and developed through the arts have a key part to play in the journey to building a strong, supportive, enabling community where individuals may grow and thrive together”
Current Projects
ARTS IN SCHOOLS
Night-Light Theatre provide
engaging interactive workshops in schools, exploring a range of topics, including but not limited to:
• Friendships
• Transitions
• Gaming and Online Safety
• Mental Health Awareness
• Healthy/ Unhealthy relationships
• Understanding Emotions
• Loss and bereavement
The workshops aim to educate, promote open conversations, build confidence, self-esteem and resilience and inspire hope. Our team are specialists in using creativity and theatre to support and enhance children and young people’s wellbeing.
ARTS IN THE COMMUNITY
Night-Light Theatre deliver projects within the community with participants with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Our projects aim to encourage participation, increase confidence, self-esteem, improve interpersonal skills and explore issue-based subjects to raise awareness with participants, targeted audiences and the wider community.
We deliver work within the community with hard-to-reach and marginalised groups.
ARTS IN THE CJS
Night-Light Theatre have over 7 years experience working in the criminal justice system, delivering workshops within: adult male, female and youth offending facilities.
Our projects have at their focus, the intentional use of arts and creativity to empower participants, promote open conversations, enhance wellbeing and evoke transformation and change.
We offer short and long term projects. Throughout the process, drawing on and encouraging individual assets and community skills to ensure positive and sustainable outcomes.
ARTS TRAINING AND CONSULTATION
Night-Light Theatre offer a range of training, support and consultations to individuals, professionals and organisations.
The support we offer includes:
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Tailor-made guidance for working creatively within the community/ with individuals and groups you support.
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Training (online and/or in person) for staff members who wish to engage individuals in arts for wellbeing programmes.
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Guidance and useful resources to support the setting up and sustainability of high-quality, asset based arts programmes.
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Continual professional development workshops – to equip staff with transferable skills and exercises (supporting staff members to develop their own artistic skills).
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Creative resources tailor-made for the participants and service.
Our Signature Aesthetic
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Meet the Team
SARAH RUMFITT
Director
Sarah first set up Night Light Theatre (NLT) in 2017, following her work facilitating Arts and Health workshops within the Criminal Justice System.
Sarah is a Writer, Actor, Director and practicing Dramatherapist.
Her most recent credit for NLT involved writing "Pearls in a Teacup" with Carers of Forensic Patients, this digital film was commissioned by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust and aims to highlight the lived experience of Carers whose loved ones have been detained within a Forensic Mental Health Hospital.
Other Writing Credits Include: "Diamonds in the Rough" TEWV, "Face Value", ilkley Literature Festival and "Butterflies and Steel" HMPSS; a piece of theatre co-produced with men in the CJS, designed to open up conversations around mens mental health. Alongside her practice with the CJS, Sarah also provides 1:1 therapy and group creative sessions to children in primary schools. In all of her work, she adopts a client centred approach and uses the arts for: prevention, early intervention, rehabilitation, and to facilitate trauma-informed interventions and training. Sarah is passionate about: social justice, arts and wellbeing, mental health, compassionate enquiry, asset based community development and co-production.
On her own self-care:
When I feel everything is fast and chaotic and overwhelming, stepping into nature helps me to feel calmer and more grounded. Walking my big fluffy fur-ball friend (My dog) helps me to unwind, afterwards I often feel as though I can see more clearly.
STELLA SPENCER
Director
Stella first joined Night Light Theatre (NLT) in 2018, following her work as Movement Director for 'Butterflies and Steel' a piece of theatre designed to open up conversations around men’s mental health.
Stella is a Dance & Movement Practitioner, Actor, Director and Community Development Worker.
With a long practice of facilitating community dance and movement since 2003, she values the collaboration with non-professionals from all walks of life where the process of working towards a performance or informal sharing is as important as the product (if not more important). Most recently Stella has facilitated arts and wellbeing workshops within the Criminal Justice System with NLT and is passionate about community development using the arts as a vehicle for meaningful participation towards individual and community wellness.
On her own self-care:
When life gets ‘fizzy’ I lean back, fall into the arms of my maker and simply breath. Remembering that simply inhaling & exhaling IS enough as I relax from straining to make a difference in this world where I coexist with my neighbours, the rest of humanity who share this beautify planet.
JESSICA ROBSON
Director
Jess joined the team back in 2018 as a theatre practitioner on our theatre for wellbeing project before becoming a Company Director.
Jess is a theatre maker, actor, director and facilitator
Her most recent credit for Night Light Theatre (NLT) is directing 'Diamonds in the Rough' a Night-Light Theatre film comissioned by Tees Esk and Wear Valley NHS Trust and playing Nichole & Jade in 'Butterflies and Steel' and facilitating our 'Theatre for Wellbeing' project.
Outside of NLT Jess facilitates projects in the criminal justice system, in schools (including SEN), and with vulnerable adults.
Jessica's practice is centred around social justice. She believes theatre has the power to allow people to express themselves, build communities, challenge perceptions & perspectives, combat social isolation, build transferable skills and re-imagine positive identities as an artist.
On her own self-care:
I enjoy surfing, bouldering, dancing, being on the beach or somewhere in nature and spending time with my two rescue dogs. I believe planning time for you helps to live a balanced life.
LYNSEY BURKE
Volunteer, Community Liaison
Lynsey began collaborating with Night Light Theatre as a participant in July 2019. Her passion and enthusiasm for storytelling, improvisation and play led her to volunteering with NLT.
Lynsey is a theatre maker, artist and advocate for recovery and mental health.
Lynsey is passionate about connecting with the community and has supported NLT to strengthen their community outreach; through introducing new partnerships and through encouraging those, who would not usually access arts programmes to come along and give it a go. Lynsey is an advocate for recovery, mental health and wellbeing and readily shares her own experiences with others; inspiring participants to work together, try out new activities and take risks within the creative space. Alongside her creative practice, Lynsey has completed numerous self-learning programmes; including mentoring, recovery coaching and volunteering. She facilitates creative arts sessions and hosts community events and quizzes throughout the week for and with various organisations.
On her own self-care:
I enjoy meditating and journalling, connecting with others and being creative with my children. compassionate enquiry is something I have found really useful in supporting my own mental health and wellbeing. I also often use positive affirmations to practice self-compassion. I am always looking to learn and grow (personally, professionally and spiritually. I love being creative in lots of different ways: from djembe drumming, and rock painting to mask, puppet and prop making.