St John’s Waterloo Appoints Artist-in-Residence to work in Day Centre

A group of homeless people in Waterloo are learning theatre-making skills and will be writing and performing their own stories in a new creative collaboration between St John’s Waterloo and London City Mission’s near-by Webber Street Day Centre.

St John’s has appointed theatre writer and director Vicky Moran to be its new Artist-in-Residence and her first project is at the Webber Street centre. Vicky is leading a six-month course during which participants are developing a range of skills from group and solo writing, poetry and the spoken word, to music, physical and image theatre. What results will depend on the collaborative, creative process but it is likely to involve the creation of a short play or some other presentation.

Also taking part is St John’s Community Therapist, Chand Starin Basi, whose role is to offer support to participants as they explore themes of homelessness and belonging. It is hoped that all involved will benefit not only from learning new skills and new forms of self-expression but also the spirit of community that taking part in a joint creative venture can inspire.

Vicky Moran said:

“I’m passionate about using theatre as a tool for change – whether that’s within ourselves and the way we think about the world and the people we share it with, a change in how we view ourselves, or a bigger societal change. At Webber Street, we’re using different theatre techniques to build confidence and creativity and to empower our participants to share their stories, see themselves as artists and feel heard.”

Jennifer Garibay of London City Mission’s Webber Street said:

“Guests at Webber Street Day Homeless Centre are people on the margins, living in the hostel system, sleeping rough or without fixed housing. We provide cooked breakfasts, hot showers, and clothing, our aim is to help meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of our guests. We are excited to see what unfolds as our guests find new and different ways to express their hearts in this creative way.”

Euchar Gravina, Artistic Director of St John’s Waterloo, said:

“We’re delighted that our first artist-in-residence project is being carried out in partnership with a local homelessness hostel, with a community that shares in the history and makeup of our area. We hope that the wellbeing and creative benefits of this project can be replicated with other partners and in other venues across Waterloo and Lambeth. And most of all, we look forward to using the wonderful spaces being created at St John’s by our £5 million restoration project due to finish next spring.”

Vicky Moran is a writer, director and community artist based in London and inspired by the social injustices around her. She fuses multiple disciplines to tell real stories and elevate underrepresented voices. Vicky has worked extensively both in professional and community settings with companies such as: Cardboard Citizens, The Donmar, Soho Theatre, The Old Vic, Clean Break, The Pleasance and Theatre 503. She has created work internationally for: Syn:Format (Syrian Refugee theatre company) at UfaFabrik Festival in Berlin, and Fekat Circus (A street performance company) in Ethiopia. Vicky is currently an Associate Alumni Artist for Jerwood Arts.

The Webber Street Residency is one of several community projects run by St. John’s Waterloo’s charity The Bridge at Waterloo. Others include Here for Work, an employment skills training scheme with a high success rate of getting local people into work.

St John’s, the Grade II* landmark church on the roundabout opposite Waterloo Station, is currently undergoing a £5 million restoration. It will re-open in spring 2022, fit and ready to serve the people of Waterloo, London and beyond for decades to come.