Doorstep Arts is a non-profit arts education organisation based in Torbay. We run 14 drama groups across Torbay at key doorstep sites – youth clubs, church halls and schools. We are also the creative education company in residence at the Palace Theatre, Paignton.
The young people who attend these groups range in age from 0-25. They write their own stories and songs, and they explore original ideas through drama process, play, and imagination. The groups provide safe educational spaces to experiment with what it means to be an artist and to explore your own voice. Read our Blog to find out more.
We believe that we all make the story happen – that participation in the arts is a key part of working for social justice. We believe that all children’s voices and stories matter and deserve to be listened to. Doorstep Arts believes that all children deserve to be able to access high quality participatory arts and to see (and make) amazing and inspiring work on their own doorsteps. Read our Manifesto for Change here.
All of Doorstep’s work is educational practice as action research. This research is exploring pedagogy, performance and praxis with young people as co-researchers.
Our research and practice is conducted through 5 key inter-connected strands of work.
Read more about our key strands & vision here.
Watch our video and meet the Doorstep Arts team below to learn more:
Our job vacancies can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Meet the Team
Jade Campbell (She/Her)
Co-Director, Co-Founder & Co-Parent
Jade is a Brixham-local, a Dartington graduate and holds an MA in Applied Theatre from the University of Exeter. Jade also works for Theatre Royal Plymouth. Jade is one of the 3 Doorstep Arts Co-Parents, looking after the core strands of our work & strategic direction. She leads the Platform strand.
jade@doorsteparts.co.uk
Erin Walcon (She/Her)
Co-Director, Co-Founder & Co-Parent
Erin is a Paignton-based director, writer and educator with a PhD in Applied Theatre. She lectures at the University of Exeter drama department & in the Graduate School of Education. Erin is one of the 3 Doorstep Arts Co-Parents, looking after the core strands of our work & strategic direction. She leads the Open Doors strand. Watch Erin’s introductory video here.
erin@doorsteparts.co.uk
Polly Ferguson-Carruthers (She/Her)
Co-Parent & Lead Artist
Polly is the musical theatre specialist for Doorstep, serving as the Lead Artist for all of the DAS (Studio Courses). She lectured at NW Kent College, and is a Dartington graduate, where she specialised in Balinese puppetry and dance. Polly is one of the 3 Doorstep Arts Co-Parents, looking after the core strands of our work & strategic direction. She leads the Participation strand.
polly@doorsteparts.co.uk
Mair George (She/Her)
Platform & Scratch Project Manager
Mair is a creative production and employability specialist working with Villages in Action, a community touring organisation in Devon and the University of Exeter. Mair project manages our Platform and Stories from Scratch strands of work.
Marie Copland (She/Her)
Administration & Finance
Marie is the Arts Finance Administrator. She is the first and best port of call for any general enquiries, finances, payments and invoices. You can reach her on the Doorstep office phone – 01803 55 88 11 or via the email below.
admin@doorsteparts.co.uk
Associate Artists
Doorstep works with a regular team of wonderful associate artists, many of whom run their own organisations and freelance across the region. We are always interested in hearing from SW-based Teaching Artists who specialise in participatory work with children and young people. Please do get in touch if this is you! 2021 Associate Artists include:
Laura Whittet (She/Her)
Associate Artist
Laura is an Ashburton based facilitator, writer, performer and co-founder of LaLa Arts Devon. She holds a degree in Musical Theatre and also trained at The Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (ALRA) where she completed her MA in professional Acting. Laura leads on our After-School Clubs and leads the Saturday drop in sessions.
laura@doorsteparts.co.uk
Sam Parker (He/Him)
Producer & Lead Artist
Sam is one of the co-founders of Downstage Write. He works as a SW advocate for the National Youth Theatre and regularly for Theatre Royal Plymouth, including work as a tutor at the University of Plymouth. He is the Producer on the Esmee Fairbairn-funded Producing Praxis project, providing mentorship and support for young people in Torbay. He also delivers projects for Doorstep, including the Young Writers Project.
sam@doorsteparts.co.uk
Amy Mellows (She/Her)
Associate Artist
Amy is a graduate of the University of Exeter Drama Department and joined Doorstep to serve as the Assistant Director on the HLF-funded Protest & Rebellion project. She is a digital and radio specialist, and currently works to support Doorstep’s digital outreach work, including project management of Theatre of the Mind, a schools-based outreach programme supporting young people’s mental health.
amy@doorsteparts.co.uk
Sonia Thakurdesai (She/They)
Nurture Producer
Sonia is a graduate of the University of Exeter Drama Department and works alongside our Platform delivery team to provide support for global majority artists specifically across our Participation, Platform and Stories from Scratch strands of work.
sonia@doorsteparts.co.uk
Foot in the Door Assistants
Doorstep runs a year-round mentorship programme, Foot in the Door, which provides support, resource, and training for emerging artists in Torbay. Current interns and assistants include:
- Rebekah Daws, KickStart Creative Assistant (She/Her)
- Faye Julyan, DAS Assistant Artist (Foot in the Door)
- Verity Soley, Drop In Groups Assistant Artist (Foot in the Door)
Job Vacancies
We regularly hire freelance, fixed-term positions for projects.
Please click here to see a list of existing job vacancies.
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