Next Door But One

KNOCK KNOCK...ITS US FROM NEXT DOOR BUT ONE

Our name says a lot about who we are.

As an applied theatre company we want to bring people together, foster connections and overall make our audiences and participants realise that we’re all a lot closer than we think. 

We're a multi award-winning LGBTQ+ and disability-led theatre company based in York, promoting creative skills and encouraging community cohesion, particularly with those who face barriers to accessing theatre. Our established programme focuses on workshops and performances for and with cohorts of the community with disabilities, mental ill health, those experiencing bereavement, those who are carers and individuals from the LGBTQ+ community. Our activity ranges from workshops to touring performances, training programmes and professional development opportunities.

Our Story

We started in 2013. Telling stories of friendship in Filey and Muslim Mothers in Bradford. Before working all around Yorkshire, using Playback Theatre, Forum Theatre and Role Play. Telling stories of care home managers and people with dementia. Of older people’s loneliness and younger people’s isolation. Of foreign beginnings and local endings. Of stories that had never been told and those that were still hard to hear. Of authority and powerlessness. Of success and adversity. Of life and death...and everything in between.

Our collective of artists are some of the industry's leaders and come from diverse backgrounds. Backgrounds that include acting, writing, directing, dance, storytelling, and theatre with disabled people, children and young people, older people and vulnerable adults.

After 4 years of working with other people’s stories in closed settings we decided to tell our own too. In 2016 we produced our first touring production for the public stage, Any Mother Would and then Laura Wade's Colder Than Here in 2019. And so began our company's journey of workshops and performances combined.

In 2021 we carried out our most ambitious artistic programme. We engaged 2000 individuals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and in 2023 we joined Arts Council England's Investment Programme as an NPO.

Since then our work has grown in impact and reputation, making us multi award-winning:

• Visit York Tourism Award for 'Resilience and Innovation'
• York Mix Hero Award for 'Outstanding Talent'.
• York Enterprise Awards for 'Community Changemaker' and 'Inclusive Business'.

This is just the start of our story.