Theatreforlife

15/03/2026

Michelle Smith (she/her) Artistic Director & Founder Theatreforlife

Michelle founded Theatre for Life in 2017 with a mission to empower individuals and widen access to the arts through community creativity.

With over 25 years as a trained teacher, Michelle now works as a director, producer and creative health practitioner, collaborating with organisations including Solent Mind, the NHS and the University of Southampton.

Propel Associate Artist at MAST Mayflower Studios (2023–2025).

25/02/2026

Pupils at Lift New Forest recently visited Southampton Solent Theatre to watch Bringing the Outside In by Theatreforlife. The powerful, youth-led production explored important social and health issues through bold storytelling, leaving students inspired and engaged.

Our pupils loved the performance — with one commenting, “I can’t believe they did a whole show with just four actors!” A memorable and thought-provoking experience for all.

26/01/2026

‘Beautifully tying in New Forest folklore’, Theatreforlife’s Bringing the Outside In is a youth- and community-led ‘gem’ touring Hampshire.

🎫 Find tickets for the final shows at The Arc, Wi******er by following the link in the comments.

🔗 Click through the link to hear behind-the-scenes perspectives from the cast and writer.

Bringing the Outside In is supported through the Youth for Climate and Nature ( ) scheme, made possible thanks to National Lottery players through The National Lottery Community Fund.

Find out more by searching ‘New Forest YouCAN’.

25/01/2026

📣NEW MILTON📣

🌿Bringing the Outside In🌿 is coming to YOU Forest Arts Centre

The 'empowering’, youth-led show tackles the climate crisis and draws on local, New Forest folklore 🪾👁️

🗓️ 7:30pm Sat 31st Jan
🗓️ 2:00pm Sun 1st Feb

We have an exciting FREE access offer for young people aged 11 to 25 years old who meet our criteria:

- Free School meals
- Pupil premium
- SEND
- Young carers
- Home educated

 REGISTER HERE:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfbcc3RGcy4S0T0bvSjwfLWIzcCK1pMDs15PAosopZP-JD9Xg/viewform

Or alternatively you can purchase tickets via box office: https://www.forest-arts.co.uk/event/bringing-outside-theatre-life

Other tour venues:

🗓️ HAVANT 3rd-4th Feb
🗓️WINCHESTER 9th-10th Feb

Bringing the Outside In is supported through the Youth for Climate and Nature ( ) scheme, made possible thanks to National Lottery Players through The National Lottery Community Fund.
Working in partnership New Forest National Park Authority

Find out more by searching 'New Forest YOUCAN!' ✨

Photography by Steve Carter & Kieran Graves

19/01/2026

Theatreforlife’s ‘empowering’ and ‘wonderfully emotive’ youth-led play Bringing the Outside In visits New Milton in less than two weeks as part of the show's Hampshire tour.

🎫 Find tickets to see the ‘gem’ while you can by following the link in the comments:

The performance ‘beautifully ties in New Forest folklore’ and ‘strikes the perfect balance between fantasy and reality’.

🔗 Click through the link to hear behind-the-scenes perspectives from the cast and writer.

Bringing the Outside In is supported through the Youth for Climate and Nature ( ) scheme, made possible thanks to National Lottery Players through The National Lottery Community Fund.

Find out more by searching ‘New Forest YouCAN’.

18/01/2026

🌿 Bringing The Outside In – 2026 Theatre Tour 🌿

Written by Kit Miles
Music by Sharifa

Bringing The Outside In is a powerful theatre tour inspired by Southampton’s urban landscape and the folklore of the New Forest. Through music, puppetry, and digital storytelling, the show explores climate anxiety in young people and local issues such as air pollution, giving voice to the environmental challenges shaping their lives.

🎟️ FREE TICKETS & GROUP OFFERS

✅ FREE TICKET OFFER (Access Programme)
We are offering 20 complimentary tickets per school or youth organisation at each venue.
Eligible for young people aged 11–25 who:
• Receive free school meals or Pupil Premium
• Have SEND
• Are young carers
• Are home educated

👉 Please complete our enquiry form to apply.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Crw0MWvtakxYyLHyyNwmkGzxPTy7ijHMn_vMJdZjWA8/viewform?edit_requested=true

🎫 10 + 10 FREE TICKET MATCH
Purchase 10 tickets for 11–25 year olds and we’ll match them with 10 FREE tickets.
No eligibility criteria.
👉 Registration form required.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1qfEFBjdkhgjTaJyk5kAcW9DJZDUSX_x7CwyPV2MuF8w/viewform?edit_requested=true

🎭 ABOUT THE SHOW

Amber is alone.
She hasn’t turned up for the first day of her final year of sixth form.
She’s terrified of the climate crisis — and everyone knows it.

Then she accidentally summons Yerna, a three-thousand-year-old “giant” who transforms her stuffy flat into a forest oasis.

But can their intentions be trusted?
What can an ancient story teach a young person facing a changing world?

Bringing The Outside In is a soul-stirring exploration of fear, hope, and the power of community.

📍 2026 TOUR DATES
Forest Arts Centre New Milton
📅 31 January – 7:30pm
📅 1 February – 2:00pm

The Spring Arts & Heritage Centre Havant
📅 3 February – 7:30pm
📅 4 February – 11:00am

The Arc, Wi******er
📅 9 February – 7:30pm
📅 10 February – 2:30pm

📚 CURRICULUM LINKS
PSHE (Physical Health & Mental Wellbeing)
Health and Wellbeing
Relationships & Living in the Wider World
GCSE Drama, Science, and Geography

🤝 Theatre for Life’s Bringing The Outside In is part of the Youth for Climate and Nature (YouCAN) programme, supported by the National Lottery Community Fund, with match funding from New Forest National Park Authority

18/01/2026

THEATRE - Bringing the Outside In - by Theatre for Life | 31 Jan 7:30pm & 1 Feb 2pm | From £8

Amber is alone. She’s not turned up for the first day of her final year of sixth form. She’s terrified of the climate crisis, and everyone knows it. Enter Yerna - a three thousand year old “giant” she accidentally summons, who turns her stuffy flat into a forest oasis. But can their intentions be trusted?

Running Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Age advice: Suitable for 11 years +

Mild trigger warning - Climate anxiety, mental health & respiratory-health.

Tickets -> https://buff.ly/6905Cr9

15/01/2026

13/01/2026

The Hampshire tour for ‘empowering’ new youth-led play Bringing the Outside In begins in just two weeks.

🎫 Do you have tickets?

The Theatreforlife production blends New Forest folklore and the nearby urban landscape of Southampton to champion young people’s views on the climate and nature emergencies in a ‘highly emotive’ performance.

Find out more about the show and check for tickets at your nearest venue:

🔗 https://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/btoi

Bringing the Outside In is supported through the Youth for Climate and Nature ( ) scheme, made possible thanks to National Lottery Players through The National Lottery Community Fund. Find out more by searching ‘New Forest YouCAN’.

29/12/2025

Magic happens when nature meets creativity! Discover how New Forest folklore shaped Theatreforlife’s ‘empowering’ play, Bringing the Outside In.

Hear from playwright, Kit Miles, on how storytelling blends a medieval narrative with Southampton’s urban landscape while championing young voices.

📣 ‘We began to wonder, if Yernagate was around today, what would this giant have to say?’

🎫 Bringing the Outside In is touring Hampshire venues from January 2026.

🔗 Click through the link in the comments to hear from Kit and find a link to tickets.

Check back tomorrow for the next post in our .

Bringing the Outside In is supported through the Youth for Climate and Nature ( ) scheme, made possible thanks to National Lottery Players through The National Lottery Community Fund. Find out more by searching ‘New Forest YouCAN’.

📸 Theatre for Life