ABOUT US
Formed in 2024, our work embodies the power of theatre to be innovative, courageous and resonant - and above all how it can be centred on the experiences of the people and communities that inspire and make it.
We offer training, skills development, mentoring and learning - and above all the chance for people from County Durham to make world class theatre. Over the next decade our work will connect with venues, festivals, community centres across the world - where we will present new projects that tell the stories found within this rich county.
OUR ROOTS
We’re led by Mark Dornford-May and draw on his inspirational work with Isango Ensemble, a Theatre company rooted within the Townships of Cape Town (South Africa) and winning wide acclaim through touring the world.
From our home in Horden Methodist Church, Co Durham, we offer a platform of hope, expression and positive change, amplifying unheard voices and harnessing untapped potential within our communities.
Ensemble ‘84 is proud to be a key part of ‘Into the Light’ a transformative programme that will drive long-lasting growth in County Durham through creative collaboration. Over the next three years, it will cultivate talent, widen access to creative education, enhance skills, and break down barriers in the creative industries.
WHY ENSEMBLE ‘84?
Why Ensemble '84? Our name resonates with the spirit of 1984, a pivotal year in the UK marked by the Miners' Strikes—a defining moment for thousands of workers. Precisely 40 years on, we aim to embody the essence of hope, resistance, and above all, community solidarity.
Ensemble ‘84 is just beginning…..