Workie Ticket Theatre

03/09/2026

Let’s normalise talking about cancer and our health! 🩷

Join us in our conversation!
We asked some important questions, did any of the answers surprise you?

Talking openly, sharing knowledge and creating safe spaces can help us better understand the experiences of those living with or loving those with cancer.

A huge thank you to…

Represent Women
Comms
ThisLife Collective UK

For taking the time to sit down and chat.

Keep the conversation going!



North Tyneside Council
Healthwatch North Tyneside
Viv Wiggins
Northern Cancer Alliance

26/08/2026

A huge thank you to everyone who came along to our Cake in Our New Space get-together at Crew Gal Creative House ! 🎂💛

It was lovely to meet some new faces and see some folks we haven’t seen for a while. We also had a little helper on hand - Ryan (JoJo’s son!) who kept us all supplied with brews and, of course, plenty of cake! ☕🍰

Martha was there interviewing a few people for our next C Project post, and JoJo was chatting about our new podcast, Theatre of the Survivor. Also, we were asking folk what they wanted us to do for our tenth birthday party next year...

Thanks so much to everyone who popped in, and absolutely no worries if you couldn’t make it this time. We’ll be having another get-together in November - details to come!

And then we came home to the sad news that the world had lost Dolly Parton. 💔

Dolly was truly one of a kind. An incredible artist, songwriter and storyteller whose music has meant so much to so many people and whose songs have often found their way into our work at Workie Ticket.

It’s a tough year. Losing wor King Kev 🤍🖤and now Dolly - two absolute icons who brought so much joy, inspiration and magic into the world.

Thank you for the music, Dolly. 🩷What a legacy you leave behind.

25/08/2026

“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain." RIP Dolly Parton

Celebrating a legacy of kindness and strength...
Following the sad news of Dolly Parton’s passing, our thoughts are with everyone who found comfort, joy, and strength in her work over her seven-decade career. Since WHiST opened our doors in 1986, our mission has been to help local women find their voices and support one another. Dolly Parton embodied those exact values of sisterhood and unconditional support on a global stage quietly changing lives through massive charitable works, healthcare funding, and global grants for women. Her music has truly been the soundtrack to so many lives.
We would love for our members to come together and share their memories today. Whether you danced to '9 to 5', found comfort in her stories, or simply admired her giving heart please tell us how she impacted you. Let's use our community space today to remember her warmth and celebrate the enduring strength of women.

🥰

25/08/2026

🩵

Cancer, theatre and conversation.

We’re delighted to be welcoming Theatre to the Hub for a special cancer awareness performance, followed by an informal discussion with members of our Breast Cancer Support Group.

We’ll be opening the event up to our wider Live Well with Cancer community too, so everyone is welcome to come along, watch the performance, share thoughts and experiences if they wish, or simply listen.

And of course, there’ll be tea, cake and plenty of time to chat afterwards. ☕🍰💙

We’re really looking forward to bringing together theatre, conversation and our community to help raise awareness and open up those important conversations around cancer.

Date: 28th September
Time: 7 - 8.30
Venue: Live Well Hub

Places are limited, so please get in touch if you’d like to come along.



Workie Ticket Theatre Northern Cancer AllianceNorthumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation TrustNorth Tyneside CouncilNorth Shields PeopleMacmillan in the North EastNorth East Mayoral Strategic AuthorityNorthern Radiotherapy NetworkPoint NorthHealthwatch North Tyneside@

13/08/2026

Calling all young people!! 🩷

It is vital we take care of our health at all ages. If something feels off with your health, a good place to start is booking that GP appointment!

Cancer impacts the lives of people from all walks of life. Listen and look after your body.
Advocate for your health!



North Tyneside Council
Healthwatch North Tyneside
Northern Cancer Alliance

04/08/2026

Welcome to the beginning of the social media journey for The C Project! 🩷

Together, we’re creating a space to support and empower women affected by cancer. We will be discussing advocating for your health, learning about your body, medical misogyny and more! Keep an eye out for upcoming posts, resources and workshops.

We’re so happy you’re here! x

31/07/2026

DID YOU CATCH US IN THE CHRONICLE?

On 21 July, JoJo, Ashlea and Viv were invited to attend the North Tyneside Health and Wellbeing Board, joining councillors and representatives from Public Health, Children’s Services, local services, the Fire Service, the NHS and other organisations working across our region.

It was also lovely to have the support of Healthwatch North Tyneside, and to receive such a lush introduction from their Director, Paul Jones, who helped set the scene for the important conversations that followed. 💜

JoJo introduced the Board to the work of Workie Ticket Theatre and shared how we use theatre, lived experience and honest conversation to raise awareness, challenge inequalities and create space for important conversations within our communities.

To give the Board the opportunity to see this work in practice, Ashlea performed a reading of the 'The C Card' - written by our Founder and Artistic Director, JoJo Kirtley, and directed by Viv Wiggins.

'The C Card' sits at the heart of our 'Conversation, Cake & Cancer' project, using humour, honesty and lived experience to open up conversations around cancer, encourage people to listen to their bodies and raise awareness of symptoms that can too often be overlooked, dismissed or misunderstood.

We’re delighted that this important work has now been featured in The Chronicle, helping us share the project and its message with even more people across the North East., please like and share. Look out for more workshops in the Autumn.💜

Read the full feature below 👇

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/wallsend-north-tyneside-drama-cancer-34328975

27/07/2026

WE HAVE A HYEM💜

A note from our founder... JoJo Kirtley

"When I started Workie Ticket Theatre, I never imagined that nearly nine years later we'd be moving into a space of our own. This company was built from nowt. Built on a belief that people deserve a chance. Built on stories. Built on community. Built on women supporting women. Built on the idea that creativity can change lives.

Since then, we've survived a global pandemic, arts funding cuts, a cost of living crisis, more cuts, personal tragedy, illness, grief, stress, heartbreak, pregnancy, motherhood and every challenge that comes with trying to keep a small company alive in difficult times.

There have been moments when it would have been easier to give up, especially this year. But somehow, here we are: moving into our very own space at Crew Gals Creative House in North Shields. And I am so incredibly proud.

Workie Ticket has never just been me. It belongs to every freelancer, artist, performer, facilitator, producer, volunteer and creative who has poured their heart into this company over the years. It belongs to the women who trusted us with their stories. It belongs to the communities who welcomed us in. It belongs to everyone who bought a ticket, shared a post, offered advice, championed our work or simply believed in what we were trying to do. To our brilliant team, thank you. Ashlea, Viv and Charlotte - you're the best.

To every creative who has been part of the Workie Ticket journey, thank you.

And a huge thank you to Susan from Crew Gals for helping make this move possible and for believing in us.

Workie Ticket was created to support North East creatives to find their way back into the industry and to create theatre that centres women's voices, amplifies survivors and shines a light on stories that deserve to be heard.

To think that idea has grown into a survivor-led, woman-led theatre company with a home of its own is something I will never take for granted.

Here's to new beginnings, new adventures, endless cups of tea, big ideas, bold stories and the next chapter of WT...we now have a hyem."