Act On Info is a theatre company who has never quite fitted into the pigeon hole that is theatre in education. We work with schools and organisations in a variety of settings using our knowledge of how drama can promote change to make our drama products exciting, up to date and an effective learning tool. We believe that both children and adults have the potential to be more creative and to use this creativity to enhance their educational, professional, personal and social development.
Act On Info was initially founded in 1999 through a collaboration between the Manchester Healthy Schools Partnership and a group of experienced actors / play workers to create and tour the Happy, Safe and Confident anti -bullying workshop to schools.
Since then we have been commissioned and funded by various organisations such as The Manchester Stop Smoking Service, Greater Manchester Police and Greater Manchester West Mental Health Trust – as well as providing drama workshops and assemblies for individual schools and youth groups. We initially produced drama workshops and assemblies around physical and mental health issues linked to PSHE and then developed our range of workshops to encompass other areas of the curriculum and work with adults.
Based in Manchester, we established ourselves as a provider of high quality drama programmes in our local area and have since branched out to working throughout the UK.
Alison Banham
I left Manchester Metropolitan University with a Dip HE and a BA (Hons) degree in Creative Arts and a determination to be a professional actor. Starting work with Act On Info in 1999 performing in anti-bullying workshops with the Central Manchester Healthy Schools Partnership on what I thought was just another acting job was a revelation – after seeing the powerful effect it had on the participants I realised the value of using drama to promote learning. Now I oversee development of our creative products, devise, direct, facilitate and coordinate our drama projects and like nothing better than escaping the office to do the hands on work with schools and other groups. In my spare time I am also a professional actor, writer and director experienced in stage, film, training and role play.
Equity no: M00247398 (Public Liability Insurance up to £10m) Current CRB Check.
Helen Copley
Helen graduated from the University of Manchester in 1997 with a BA (Hons) degree in Drama. Helen started working for Act On Info in 2001 performing in Smoking Prevention workshops commissioned by Manchester Stop Smoking Service and has continued on to devise, perform in, facilitate and coordinate various projects up to the present day. Helen is also a professional actor and writer with years of experience in stage, radio, TV, comedy, training and corporate roles. Helen has a GCSE in dance which she is very proud of.
Equity no: M00243277 (Public Liability Insurance up to £10m)
Act On info have a core team of actors, facilitators and directors, who are fully trained, hold current CRB checks and have full public liability insurance. We use professionals who are dedicated to the work and get professional and personal satisfaction from the job they do with us.
