The idea
Food poverty increases stress, anxiety and depression through constant worry and hardship, affecting adults and children and reinforcing a damaging cycle between food insecurity and poor mental health.
Through a co-created, interactive approach, residents share lived experiences of food poverty, transform these experiences into short plays and present them to councillors, MPs, businesses and other stakeholders. This process reverses traditional power dynamics by placing those affected by poor policy on stage and inviting decision-makers to engage with them directly.
Each short play ends “badly” and is rewound, allowing audiences to step in, test alternatives and explore where systemic change is needed.
In a context of rising hardship and unheard communities, this Legislative Theatre Project offers an inclusive bridge between residents and policymakers, with FPAC aiming to embed this arts-informed approach into local decision-making so policies better reflect real community needs.
What we'll deliver
- Promote grass roots democracy.
- Give a voice to the voiceless.
- Pay participants for their lived-experience expertise.
- Embed art-informed policy development into local decision-making.
Why it's a great idea
The main beneficiaries are those with the lived-experience of food poverty and those in positions of power who can make systemic change.
FPAC’s pilot Legislative Theatre Project in October 2025 showed potential, with the local community & councillors recognising its value for policy development.
This project will work closely with Sunflower House & its food poverty partners: by recruiting participants from these partners, we will explore food poverty in depth and co-create potential systemic solutions.
The project’s benefits centres on four questions: Is the process useful for inclusive civic participation? Are we truthfully reflecting lived-experience of residents? What changes can be implemented immediately & longer term?
We expect outcomes in two areas: community empowerment & policy innovation. Impact will be evaluated through participatory methods, quantitative indicators & policy tracking, culminating in a public forum to share findings & build ongoing collaboration.
Steps to get it done
- 2 days Preparation - Co-create a workshop plan; outreach to potential partners and stakeholders.
- 3 days-Recruit a diverse group of community participants, ensuring representation from key local voices.
- 4 days LT Development-Co-create script through participatory sessions grounded in community research & lived experience.
- 3 days LT performance for community & policymakers, spark debate, test policy ideas & document proposed changes.
- 2 days Reflection & Evaluation: review impact, assess change potential, compile report & follow up with local leaders.
- 1 day Next Steps Facilitate final public sharing & policy forum to discuss next steps for long-term policy engagement.
