The Company is our professional ensemble of actors and performers. The group is made up of members with lived experience of substance misuse who are stable in their recovery and able to commit to professional productions and theatre tours. This ensemble is for those ready to take their passion for performance to the next level, devising sensitive and challenging work with a professional theatre director and touring it to a range of venues, including theatre festivals, treatment facilities, prisons and schools.

Members of The Company collaborate closely to create original productions for paying audiences, often delivering post-show drama and wellbeing workshops that engage directly with audience members. These performances are more than just entertainment. They challenge perceptions, spark important conversations and offer hope through storytelling.

The Company helps its members to: 

Collaborate – create a shared vision.

Improve relationships – maintain positive and professional internal dynamics.

Destigmitise recovery – develop knowledge of addiction and recovery.

Develop transferable skills – foster professional performance techniques and skills.

Gain employment – support individual members to build their professional portfolio.

The unique work of The Company has garnered critical acclaim from theatre reviewers, was the subject of a documentary and was featured on BBC One’s Sunday Morning Live. It’s a testament to the power of using drama to address complex issues and promote recovery in a creative and professional setting.

Participants gain specialist training through our Volunteering & Employment Pathway, with many going on to become Volunteer Peer Mentors or Volunteer Support Facilitators, and some even join our paid team as facilitators for drop-in groups and Taster Sessions.

To be considered for The Company, participants must first complete at least a year of participation in Edge Two. For more information on joining The Company, contact Outside Edge’s office team.