Guest Blog | Empath Theatre, Wakefield

30 September 2025 — jessica-bailey

We spoke with the team at Empath Theatre Community Interest Company, based in Wakefield, to learn more about their work, particularly their upcoming October performances. These new productions share the real-life experiences of living with cancer and the strength it takes to embrace each day. The play marks the end of a creative project led by Empath Theatre and funded by the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Cancer Alliance, which brought together the voices and stories of those affected by cancer.

One Day at a Time: A Performance Rooted in Real Stories Throughout 2025

Empath Theatre has been honoured to run ‘One Day at a Time’ — a creative programme built around live storytelling, theatre, and art and design. Designed as a supportive space for those affected by cancer, the programme has invited people to take part in a variety of creative workshops, including art, crafting, music, and drama. Participants have had the chance to share their experiences, offer reflections, and speak about the things they wish they’d known when they received their cancer diagnosis. It became a place not just for creativity, but for connection and communication. The voices and stories we’ve heard have shaped the final stages of our programme. From quiet moments of dread to bursts of unexpected laughter, from waiting rooms to pub tables, the stories shared have been raw, generous, and deeply human. Listening to them has been a privilege and one we don’t take lightly. The programme culminates in a new play, ‘One Day at a Time’, centred around Annie, a nurse who has spent her career by the bedsides of people facing cancer. As Annie shares moments from the patients and families who have shaped her, we begin to understand that her own story is still unfolding. Woven from real conversations, the play explores recovery, resilience, and the ways life continues to shift long after the last appointment.

This performance is more than a finale, it is a tribute to every person who took part. To those who spoke, listened, created, and trusted us with their stories: thank you. Your words will help others feel seen, understood, and less alone. The performances will take place across the Wakefield district and in Leeds, further extending our reach in the community. These experiences have also deepened our desire to co-create future performances, ensuring we continue to communicate the stories people want to tell. It also allows us to pay tribute to the organisations which currently exist to support those affected by cancer and we celebrate the important work which they do. One Day at a Time is funded by the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Cancer Alliance Innovation Award and includes 6 performances of the final play. A recording of one of the performances will be available to access for free following the live shows.

Tell us about your organisation?

At its heart, Empath Theatre is a Community Interest Company dedicated to creating world-class theatre by and for working-class people. With roots in publishing, staging, and performance, we bring a wealth of experience—and a big passion—for empowering others to unlock their creativity. Whether through dynamic theatre productions, inspiring workshops, or hands-on theatre workshops, we help people find their creative voices and tell their stories. Based in Wakefield, our projects often tackle important social, health and community issues, providing a welcoming space where individuals and groups can explore their own ideas and pause to reflect on what truly matters. Our story began in 2021, inspired by the challenges the COVID pandemic created for young people. We saw many newly qualified creatives struggling to find opportunities to build their craft. That’s when Steven and Jo met over coffee in the heart of Wakefield and started dreaming up ways to make a difference. From that simple conversation we set out to support young talent by finding funding and providing guidance to help them create and bring their own productions to life. Since then, Empath Theatre has grown, delivering projects and performances that welcome everyone—from aspiring theatre professionals to passionate newcomers. It all started with that one conversation in October 2021, and it continues to inspire everything we do.

What services do you offer people living with or affected by cancer?

We warmly welcome everyone to participate in our workshops, join productions, and attend performances. Recently, we have focused on a dedicated programme supporting those living with or affected by cancer. This programme will culminate in free performances and a live recording available in October. Depending on the current project, we often offer workshops in writing, drama, crafting, and heritage, all open to anyone who wishes to attend.

Who are your services aimed at supporting? 

Although our initial intention was to support the young creatives of Wakefield our remit has broadened considerably and we now work with a wide cross-section of the community. Much of our work is intergenerational.

How do you cater for people with specific needs?

We work throughout the communities of Wakefield and surrounding areas, aiming to offer a wide range of opportunities that are easily accessible and require minimal travel. We prioritise venues that are friendly to people with mobility challenges to ensure everyone can participate comfortably. With extensive experience supporting individuals with special educational needs and neurodivergence, we tailor our approach to create welcoming, inclusive spaces. Where needed, we have collaborated with translators and British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters to make communication as clear and open as possible. While we welcome everyone, we recognise there is always more to do to improve accessibility. We continually seek ways to enhance our offer, including providing ongoing training opportunities for our staff and partners to better support diverse needs.

What’s the most rewarding thing about the work you do?

The most rewarding part of our work is creating space for everyone to explore their creativity in a way that feels comfortable and accessible to them. This is especially important in a world where creative opportunities often feel reserved for those with the wealth and time to pursue them.

What would you say to those who are considering getting in touch with you but are nervous or apprehensive?

Please email or call and ask to chat. We are always open to conversations. We always try to work with people on a basis that they feel comfortable in whatever they do and if we feel that something would not be the right fit or thing for someone we are honest and can always direct to trusted partners who are working on projects which may be more suited.

Do you have testimonials from people that have used your services?

Here are some short quotes from those who have attended performances and workshops:

“A fantastic, emotive, informative experience”
“The short play expressed profound messages that need to be heard time + time again”
“Fantastic performance by all”
“It really made me reconsider things”

Can you tell us about your team?

At the heart of Empath Theatre is a dedicated core team led by our two senior directors, Steven and Jo. Steven, our Creative Director, brings extensive experience in theatre direction and scriptwriting. He is the creative driving force behind Empath Theatre, ensuring our performances truly come to life with passion and authenticity. Jo, as Community Engagement Director, works closely with local partners and organisations to involve them in many of our projects. With a strong background in qualitative research and monitoring, Jo is well placed to understand and measure the real impact of our programmes. Supporting Steven and Jo is a talented team of actors, backstage crew, history researchers, and facilitators who bring a diverse range of skills and dedication to every project. Since Empath began working with young people back in 2021, four of those individuals have now become company directors themselves. They collaborate alongside Steven and Jo, injecting fresh ideas and insights that help shape the future direction of our company. We are deeply committed to nurturing talent and creating meaningful opportunities wherever we can.

What are the values of your organisation and can you describe your organisation in 3 Words?

3 words is a challenge but possibly ‘fiercely human theatre’ sums us up best. We believe in empowering people to take opportunities and enjoy their creativity and it is incredibly important to us that people feel comfortable in whatever way they want to work with us.

And finally, how are you funded and what can people do to support you if they would like to?

We are a Community Interest Company (CIC) which is a type of business set up to benefit the community rather than private shareholders. We reinvest our profits into providing for the community and are legally required to use assets for the public good. One of the greatest elements of support which can be provided is to follow us on social media, mention us to people and come along to events where possible.

For more information about Empath Theatre, you can follow them on social media @empaththeatre. To book one of the performances for ‘One Day at a Time’ please go to www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/one-day-at-a-time-4069123 where you will find booking information for all the performances (7-16th October), taking place at venues in and around Wakefield.