OUTSIDE EDGE THEATRE COMPANY
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Mission Statement
OETC is the UK’s only theatre company and participatory arts charity focused on helping people affected by addiction to make healthier choices. Founded in 1999 by Phil Fox, who was an actor and recovering heroin addict and alcoholic, for the past twenty years OETC has provided free, peer-led drama activities for people struggling with substance misuse problems. We follow an asset-based approach and build Recovery Capital by promoting the Five Ways to Wellbeing: connect, be active, keep learning, take notice and give. Our critically acclaimed professional theatre productions about issues related to substance misuse have toured throughout the UK and off-West End.
About This Cause
In 2018/19 OETC delivered 228 drama workshops for 276 people, resulting in 1,120 individual attendances. 89% of participants attended more than once and 20% accessed multiple groups. We produced 7 productions with 12 performances seen by 568 audience members. We offered 5 free weekly workshops: 1) Drop-in Drama, an introduction to acting; 2) Write Now, a drop-in writing group; 3) Edge Two, a theatre skills group; 4) Women’s Group, a female-only drop-in group; and 5) The Company, an ensemble of performers and writers in recovery who tour productions. We also delivered Drama Taster Sessions in treatment facilities. Following primary treatment, people in recovery need to access safe, peer-support networks such as Alcoholics Anonymous, SMART Recovery and OETC. These groups engender empathy, connectivity and ‘living in the moment’, which helps build resilience and reduces the risk of harmful behaviour. This is why we currently have contracts with public health departments in t local authorities to provide access for this essential service to local residents. It is also why in 2018/19 91% of participants said OETC strengthened their recovery; 83% did not use substances in the past month; and 48% did not use in the past year. As one service user said, “If it wasn’t for Outside Edge I would keep relapsing, but I love Outside Edge more than drinking or drugs.” 62% of service users said our activities helped them feel more connected to others and 42% said OETC helped to improve their personal relationships. 29% reported their engagement helped them to find a job and 18% reporting we helped them to go back to school, university or training. 61% were thinking clearly often or all of the time, which is a 39% increase since first attending. 47% said our activities made them feel less vulnerable, 92% felt happy after joining, 51% said we helped them take control of their lives and 94% said OETC strengthened their recovery.