Underground Lights is a community theatre charity, based in Coventry, that is run by and for people experiencing homelessness and/or mental health issues. As a new organisation set up in 2018, we started to run relaxed but vibrant drama workshops in a safe and supportive setting in January 2019. The founders of Underground Lights both have their own lived experiences and the idea developed from their belief that theatre has the power to change lives. Together they wanted to challenge negative perceptions and instead see people who have experienced homelessness or who are socially marginalised as creative and talented artists in their own right. 

We quickly established our local reputation for nurturing the skills and talents of our members and producing innovative and uplifting artistic work created by people with experience of homelessness and/or mental health issues. In March 2019 we became one of the Belgrade Theatre’s Springboard Companies and receive in-kind and mentoring support from them. As Underground Lights has grown, more of our members are increasingly empowered to create, perform and lead their own work. Their example inspires others who have had similar experiences. Our member-led ethos is very important to us and we want people with personal experience of homelessness and/or mental health issues to be genuinely involved in the development and delivery of our activity at every stage and every level of the organisation. 

We currently work directly and intensively with 30 members but our outreach work extends further and over the last year, with the support of City of Culture and other local organisations, our creative packs reached over 650 isolated people across Coventry. We know that our work has made a significant difference to the lives of our members, who speak with a great deal of emotion and passion about our work: “I feel what the group has done for helping my mind and soul is priceless. I love how coming to Underground Lights has stopped me feeling worthless”.