A diverse group of people, some in wheelchairs and some seated and standing, smiling and raising their hands in a joyful pose. The background features curtains in blue and green tones at the front are two members of the Jasmin Vardimon company whoi lead a workshop with the group.

Doncaster People's Theatre

Bringing Doncaster Stories to Life

What is Doncaster People’s Theatre?

Doncaster People’s Theatre (DPT) began in 2024 as a pilot project. It brings together people from previous Cast projects and new members of the community. Around 30–40 people take part each week, ranging in age from 6 to 84.

A Creative, Welcoming Group

DPT is a space for people to connect and create through drama, music, movement, and poetry. The group is built on kindness, openness, and bravery.

Recent Projects

In November 2024, the group shared a performance about friendship, using different art forms.

Where It All Started

DPT began through the National Theatre’s Public Acts programme. Local people took part in shows like The Magic of Wild Heather (2021), The Doncastrian Chalk Circle (2022), and The Odyssey (2023).

Performing Together

In 2024, some members of DPT performed Sinfonia with The Performance Ensemble. They also took part in Lampadophores, a large outdoor show by French theatre company Picto Facto, singing in the final scene as part of Cast’s Global Streets partnership.

Community Board

The Community Board for Doncaster People's Theatre was set up to oversee its projects. It ensures these projects are community-led and focused. The board consists of local members who shape the theatre’s direction. They make sure that participants' voices and experiences are central to every production. By guiding decisions and promoting inclusivity, the board helps create meaningful, relevant, and accessible theatre opportunities.

Image gallery

Explore past productions DPT have been involved in.

  • Actors on stage, three in the background sat on a set made from pallets, they all are looking to the right. Actor in the foreground is in a wheelchair and looking off to the right.
  • Fourteen performers on a stage. Carboard boxes make up the majority of the set. A young man looks encouragingly towards a spotlight.
  • Tech Rehearsals of the Doncastian Chalk Circle. A group of children sit on a checkered blanket, engaged with a woman holding a puppet. A warm, curious atmosphere is conveyed by the soft lantern light.
  • Two older performers dressed in white dance together, one White woman with grey hair and one bald Black man in a wheelchair with two prosthetic legs. A performer plays piano in the background.
  • A group of actors stand bind a actor in the foreground looking on. They are cast in a red soft light and watching the female actor at the front. She looks up and slightly to the left she wears a crown of heather.
  • Two older performers dressed in white dance together, one White woman with grey hair and one White man in a wheelchair with a grey beard.
  • Man dancing energetically on stage in a yellow Hawaiian shirt and white shorts, exuding joy and enthusiasm. Background shows stage markings and bags.
  • A cheerful interaction in a brightly lit room, where a smiling older woman fist-bumps a man in a wheelchair. Two women observe in the background, creating a warm, inclusive atmosphere.
  • A performer in a red jacket and gray shirt passionately gestures on stage. Others in blue uniforms look on, conveying intensity and engagement.
  • A woman with glasses holds a paper and water bottle, attentively listening, against a green curtain backdrop. Two men are in the foreground.
  • A group of people in casual clothing and red sports apparel stand on stage under bright lights, exuding a serious and determined atmosphere.
  • Two people are smiling and holding papers, one is standing the other is sat in a wheelchair there are green and blue curtains behind them. The tone is cheerful and friendly.
  • A woman with short white hair reads papers in a wood-paneled room, surrounded by others in a discussion, creating a focused, collaborative atmosphere.
  • Three people stand under a bright spotlight, facing away, in a dark room with an air of mystery, surrounded by tall boxes. The mood is dramatic.
  • Two men smiling and laughing, one in a blue sweater, the other in a yellow shirt and purple suspenders, enjoying a casual, joyful moment indoors.
  • A stage scene with a man in a suit facing kneeling actors in red shirts. Cardboard boxes form an arch overhead. A neon eye symbol glows blue.

See the promo video for The Doncastrian Chalk Circle to learn more about DPT's journey.

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