Stanley Arts delivered a series of community workshops in Croydon, exploring the question of what freedom means today. Using Freedom Road by Simon Armitage as a starting point, participants engaged in facilitated, closed‑group conversations with community partners. The aim was to bridge intergenerational and intercultural divides by creating space for honest reflection on a theme of deep personal significance.

These workshops became the foundation for a co‑curation process through which Stanley Arts commissioned artists to develop creative responses to the perspectives that emerged. The resulting performances were shared both with workshop participants and the wider public at Stanley Arts’ Community Supper Socials – hosted dinner events designed to spark new connections. Supper Socials took place in the Society Room (September 2025) and the organisation’s celebrated historic main hall (November 2025).

Stanley Arts would like to thank Shaniqua Benjamin for hosting the Supper Socials, and Leo Food & South Norwood Community Kitchen for providing food for the community. They also extend their gratitude to the community groups and artists who contributed their time, creativity and perspectives to the project:

Community Groups & Partners

• Beeja Dance
• Choir On The Hill
• The BRIT School
• Queer Croydon
• Fences & Frontiers
• Croydon Youth Theatre Organisation (CYTO)
• Upper Norwood Association for Community Care (UNACC)
• Maya Productions

Individual Poets (via Maya Productions)

• Poona Singh
• Rebecca Beddoe
• Sharon Owen
• Mary Bywater
• Mavis Bird
• Liza Castellino
• Ganga Careswell
• Agnes Harris
• Norma Brady