Mafwa Theatre is a community arts organsation bringing refugees, people seeking asylum and settled communities together through drama, movement, gardening and co-creation. Since 2018 we have offered free weekly creative groups in one of England’s most deprived areas, building long-term community relationships and supporting confidence, wellbeing and connection.
Our practice is shaped by the people we work with. We collaborate closely with local refugee support organisations and community partners to create trauma-informed, co-created spaces. Since 2018, over 700 local residents and 400 people from migrant backgrounds have taken part in our work.

routing/re:rooting grows directly from Kuluhenna Drama, our weekly women’s drama group which has been running since 2017 and is the foundation community for this project. The figures below illustrate the group’s reach and impact.

354

participants since 2017

88% of participants said they felt better after attending a session.
100% of participants said that the group helped them feel more confident going somewhere new and making friends.
100% of participants reported that they got to know someone from a different community during their time with the group.
75% of participants reported making a new friend during sessions.

“My confidence has grown. I used to say no to everything. Now I tell myself: You can do it.”

- Kuluhenna Drama Participant

"I made new friends. I am more confident to speak with other people. I was lonely at home…Now I know some people”

- Kuluhenna Drama Participant

156%

increase in participants

between 2023 and 2024

100% of returning participants reported feeling ready for new challenges.
90% of participants reported feeling more supported and connected.
100% of participants reported feeling less lonely after attending sessions.
100% of participants report feeling positive about their future after attending .

“I’m the oldest, but I’m accepted here.”

Kuluhenna Drama participant
“I was scared to ask for help, but now I feel stronger and braver.”

Kuluhenna Drama participant
“I didn’t realise how much I needed to just dance, laugh with people, and feel better.”

Kuluhenna Drama participant
“We’re like a big family. It’s a place where you can share your problems and feel seen.”

Kuluhenna Drama participant
“I feel like I belong in my community.”

Kuluhenna Drama participant
“I love dancing and moving. No more negative energy.”

Kuluhenna Drama participant
“It gives me courage to try new things.”

Kuluhenna Drama participant
“I’ve met new women from different religions, cultures, and languages.”

Kuluhenna Drama participant
“I discovered my talent for acting. Some of us are parents under a lot of pressure, and this helps us forget the stress.”

Kuluhenna Drama participant
“When my kids go to school, it is very quiet but when I come here I feel happy!”

Kuluhenna Drama participant
"I was not confident to speak in front of people but I can now speak"

Kuluhenna Drama participant
"When I joined Mafwa I felt I was alive again"

Kuluhenna Drama participant

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Our work is guided by a wellbeing framework co-created with participants. Our ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ resource was developed in partnership with Forum Central in 2022, and it continues to shape our weekly sessions.

All Mafwa Theatre projects are delivered within our established safeguarding, safer-spaces and health & safety frameworks. The full risk register for routing/re:rooting can be accessed below.

Download the risk register

Letter of Support

Our full 2024 Impact Report provides data, case studies, partnerships and outcomes across our programmes

Read our Impact Report

88% of participants said they felt better after attending a session.

100% of participants said that the group helped them feel more confident going somewhere new and making friends.

100% of participants reported that they got to know someone from a different community during their time with the group.

75% of participants reported making a new friend during sessions.

“My confidence has grown. I used to say no to everything. Now I tell myself: You can do it.”

"I made new friends. I am more confident to speak with other people. I was lonely at home…Now I know some people”

100% of returning participants reported feeling ready for new challenges.

90% of participants reported feeling more supported and connected.

100% of participants reported feeling less lonely after attending sessions.

100% of participants report feeling positive about their future after attending .

“I’m the oldest, but I’m accepted here.”

“I was scared to ask for help, but now I feel stronger and braver.”

“I didn’t realise how much I needed to just dance, laugh with people, and feel better.”

“We’re like a big family. It’s a place where you can share your problems and feel seen.”

“I feel like I belong in my community.”

“I love dancing and moving. No more negative energy.”

“It gives me courage to try new things.”

“I’ve met new women from different religions, cultures, and languages.”

“I discovered my talent for acting. Some of us are parents under a lot of pressure, and this helps us forget the stress.”

“When my kids go to school, it is very quiet but when I come here I feel happy!”

"I was not confident to speak in front of people but I can now speak"

"When I joined Mafwa I felt I was alive again"

MAFWA THEATRE

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