Welcome to

Human Story Theatre

Human Story Theatre harnesses the power of original theatrical performance and writing to raise awareness of health and social care issues affecting communities everywhere. Founded by Amy Enticknap and Gaye Poole, HST has grown into a community of actors, writers and theatrical professionals uniquely combining performance, communication skills and health practice expertise.

We pride ourselves on our accessibility to all and our ability to reach new audiences through innovative one-hour performances in local community centres, libraries and theatres. Each performance acts as a catalyst to unite communities, signpost to local resources and partners, strengthen relationships with support networks and engage audiences in partner-led post-show Q&As, discussions and debates.

Our Shows

Post-Show Q&As

Our post-show Q&As are as important to us as the plays themselves.

They offer a 20 minute discussion with experts from supporting organisations relevant to the theme of each play. The aim is to raise awareness and signpost audience members to the local support and services available to them.

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HELP & SUPPORT

Our Social Impact

We have received national acclaim for our outreach work and developed a strong portfolio of partnerships with each performance. For example; we created more dementia-aware communities with Connie's Colander, recruited volunteers for organisations supporting lonely and isolated people with Flat 73, spread breast-checking messages with The Fourth Dog, encouraged audiences to interrogate their drinking habits in DRY and recruited domestic abuse champions with Happy Even After.

Feedback & Reviews

Michael Billington

Theatre critic

"Much taken with DRY by Gaye Poole, which I caught in the basement of St James's Piccadilly and which offers a salutary warning about the dangers of middle-class alcoholism. Presented by a lively Oxfordshire company […]"

Alison Graham

***** The Oxford Times

"Humour, pathos, shock, pain are provoked as you watch the drama unfold. […] Yet despite the serious nature of the subject matter, it doesn’t lecture. I laughed, was close to tears, and at times also deeply uncomfortable.”

Sophie Hums

Daily Info

"I would urge everyone to keep an eye on this theatre company. They bring difficult subjects to life and provoke discussion on ways in which they can be tackled. The show was brilliantly performed […]"

Audience Member

Connies's Colander, High Wycombe Library

"Excellent - easy to follow and very captivating and emotional. I wasn’t sure what to expect but this has been an amazing experience and homed in on real issues."

Jeremy Spafford

Director, Arts at the Old Fire Station

"We have been working with Human Story Theatre since their inception because they produce the kind of work that we are keen to present: new, well written, well executed, thought provoking and reaching out to new audiences."

John Terry

Artistic Director, The Theatre at Chipping Norton

"Human Story Theatre are a valuable and useful addition to our programme, tackling social and community issues as fits our remit as a local theatre, but doing so with engaging, well made pieces of theatre."

Joanna Trollope

Author

"I was so impressed, and really moved, by DRY. It is a stunning piece of theatre, both in the writing and the acting, and should be seen nationwide. It’s also a most effective marriage of theatre and therapy."

Partners & Funders

A big thank you to all those who have supported our work.

Cambridshire-Community-Foundation-logo
alcoholics anonymous logo

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