Community Groups

Shontal has worked with a number of organisations including credit unions, housing associations, drug and alcohol awareness, young families, prisoners and many other community based groups. Using the medium of theatre we bring home the reality of people struggling with debt. We have a variety of fast moving short plays which utilise drama and humour. These can be incorporated into any event to offer a change of pace, act as a catalyst for debate and this can culminate in workshops based around personal experience and perception of debt and financial exclusion.

Our format is interactive and although we engage with the audience we do not seek to include people in the initial performance as many will find this uncomfortable. Within the body of the play we seek opinion and advice from the audience as a whole and only afterwards might we ask for a few volunteers to help us show some of the characters or scenes that were not included during the show.

We will usually take around an hour for the initial piece however this will depend upon how voluble the audience are as well as the time constraints of the event. The shows are scripted and rehearsed but never the same twice as the audience affects the flow of the action. This means the actors have to think on their feet. Our follow on work incorporates exercises demonstrating many aspects of financial risk and problems through discussion and workshop culminating in a short performance by the few brave people who have volunteered to take part.

We have had a great reception and are continually invited back as well as to perform in new venues by people who see us. For anyone who has not had the opportunity to catch our performances we have written testimonials and we can provide contact details of people who have volunteered to be contacted directly concerning their experiences with Shontal.

Shontal is a not for profit organisation working in partnership with community groups to promote financial inclusion.