Collective Encounters

Women in Action
2026-09-29 13:00 - 15:00 (Europe/London)
Led by theatre maker Joanne Tremarco, this creative group meets weekly on Tuesdays, 1-3pm usually at the Unity Theatre, Hope Place, Liverpool. These weekly sessions involve creative activities, training and discussion that explore a whole range of themes relevant to women today.
The group is currently working towards a performance advocating for improvements in women’s healthcare, which will be performed at the Unity Theatre in December.
To find out more, contact Joanne: joanne@collective-encounters.org.uk or call 07547 333574

Parent/Baby Co-Production Group
2026-10-05 10:00 - 12:30, 2026-10-12 10:00 - 12:30, 2026-10-26 10:00 - 12:30, 2026-11-02 10:00 - 12:30, 2026-11-09 10:00 - 12:30 | PSS, Unit 16, Eleanor Rathbone House, 24 Derby Road, Liverpool, L5 9PR
Delivered in partnership with local charity PSS, our parent-baby co-production group is for parents of children under 3.
We use creative expression to develop skills and confidence, get parents’ voices heard and contribute to the improvement of services for parents and families. We also spend time sharing our experiences and getting to know each other in a safe and welcoming environment.
It’s a relaxed group with low pressure creative activities, discussion, and refreshments. Toys and activities for babies and children too.

Join us to discuss family health and wellbeing and contribute to the development of our new cabaret performance A Turn for the Better.

Women in Action
2026-10-06 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-10-13 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-10-20 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-10-27 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-11-03 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-11-17 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-11-24 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-12-08 13:00 - 15:00 | Unity Theatre, 1 Hope Place, Liverpool, L1 9BG, United Kingdom

Adult Theatre for Social Change Company
2026-10-10 11:00 - 14:00, 2026-10-24 11:00 - 14:00, 2026-11-07 11:00 - 13:00, 2026-11-21 11:00 - 13:00, 2026-12-05 11:00 - 14:00 | St Michael in the City, Upper Pitt Street, L1 5BD, Upper Pitt Street, Liverpool, L1 5BD
We work with highly-skilled theatre makers and facilitators to use a wide range of theatre disciplines to explore social and political issues.
Whether you’ve never performed before or want to reignite your creative and performance instincts taking part in one of our regular groups will give you the chance to gain confidence through performance, learn how you can make a difference in the world, meet new people and have fun.
Our Adult Theatre For Social Change group meets fortnightly on Saturdays at St Michael in the City 11am – 2pm.
For more information email Abi@collective-encounters.org.uk or call 07849094903.

Trauma Informed Practice for Community Musicians - TRAINING
2026-10-29 13:00 - 17:00 | Metal Liverpool, Edge Hill Railway Station, Tunnel Road, Liverpool, L7 6ND
“Our minds and brains develop in the context of synchronous relationships – how you play, interact and make music together. We become who we are by being in sync with the people around us, and that gives us pleasure and a sense of counting and being significant”.

– Dr Bessel van der Kolk, ‘Navigating Trauma’ Australian Psychological Society, 2025

About this training:

Although it’s very important to maintain the distinction between art and therapy, community musicians are often in positions where they need to support their participants’ mental health. This training is specifically for musicians and vocalists and takes a person-centred approach to understanding trauma and incorporating this understanding into your creative practice.
This training will:

Explore the benefits of music and music-making on mental health and wellbeing;
Unpick popular perceptions and misuse of language around trauma and PTSD;
Provide an overview of the physiology of trauma and an insight from the perspective of a clinical psychotherapist;
Offer practical tips for creating safe spaces for participants and avoiding practices which may re-traumatise participants;
Create a space to explore problem solving using real-life scenarios;
Explore asset-based approaches to understanding trauma within social justice frameworks.

This event is aimed at musicians and vocalists working in communities.
In person event: Metal; Edge Hill Station Tunnel Road, Liverpool, L7 6ND
Length: 4 hours
Ticket Cost:

For attendees supported by their organisations the full price of a ticket is £65.00
For freelancers and individuals from non-regularly funded organisations attendees the price of a ticket is £45.00
For those on low or no income the ticket price is £20.00

We also have a small number of bursary places available for those with limited funds. Email info@collective-encounters.org.uk to request a bursary place.
*Please Note: Ticket sales will end 24 hours before this event is due to start.
Trainers: AIDAN JOLLY is a researcher, performance maker, trainer and musician with more than 25 years’ experience of working with communities in struggle. He works on projects that seek redress for historic and current injustices, and is the Research Lead for Collective Encounters. He is also a PhD candidate at Edge Hill University, looking at radically generative communities of transition. He has worked with survivors of torture, veterans, homeless people, and has personal experience of complex PTSD.
JESS MICHAELSON is a Gestalt Psychotherapist, Supervisor and Trainer with over 20 years’ experience of working with traumatised adults from diverse communities, in particular with refugee survivors of Human Rights abuses. For the last 17 years Jess has been working as a psychotherapist and trainer for Freedom from Torture. Jess also works as a freelance supervisor and trainer offering training on many aspects of therapeutic work which includes working with asylum seekers, working with interpreters and self-care. Jess has a longstanding passion in human rights as well as in the therapist’s journey when developing their work with survivors of human rights abuses.
Jess has written a chapter “Holding hope: the challenge for therapists working with survivors of torture” in Psychological Therapies for Survivors of Torture: A Human Rights approach for people seeking asylum. Boyles, J (ed) 2017.
Feedback from previous attendees:
“It opened my eyes to the volume of individuals we walk past i life who have and are experiencing trauma and how this needs to be recognised in the creative environments we foster”
” This training gave me the access or entry-point into an informed framework for a trauma informed practice. I could really feel the benefit of lots of people’s wisdom and experience!”
“Full of practical solutions and thinking about approaches for our practice”

Book your ticket now

Online Drama Group
2026-11-20 13:00 - 15:00 | Online
Connect with others online and explore social issues creatively in our monthly zoom workshops. Open to anyone aged 18+
Led by Co-Artistic Director Abi Horsfield, we use creative methods to explore performance on Zoom.
Through games, discussions, improvisation and cabaret scenes, we utilise the unique form of Zoom to create entertaining and thought-provoking performances about the issues that affect us all every day. All levels of experience are welcome at our monthly session, where you’ll have the chance to connect with others, have fun, gain skills and make a positive impact.
Our Online Drama Group meets one Friday a month on Zoom at 1-3pm.
For more information email Abi@collective-encounters.org.uk or call 07849094903.
For help getting on Zoom contact Em@collective-encounters.org.uk or call 07871 026014.

A Turn for the Better
2026-12-02 11:30 - 13:00 | Unity Theatre, 1 Hope Place, Liverpool, L1 9BG, United Kingdom
How can local healthcare better serve the whole community?
This family friendly cabaret performance, co-created with marginalised communities in Liverpool, reimagines hidden stories of health inequity with humour and hope. Through fable and myth we create a vision for more inclusive medicine and community care. Join us to stand up for universal healthcare.
Suitable for all ages. Babies and toddlers welcome!
Tickets are ‘Pay What You Can’ and priced from £2 to £12 (under 5s free).
If you have a group who would benefit from seeing the show but you have a limited budget, please get in touch: info@collective-encounters.org.uk
Book Online

Adult Theatre for Social Change company (xmas party)
2026-12-19 11:00 - 14:00 | St Michael in the City, Upper Pitt Street, L1 5BD, Upper Pitt Street, Liverpool, L1 5BD
