Rhiannon Faith Company makes radically tender dance theatre, working nationally on big stages and locally with communities on the margins, always with social change and care at its heart.
We are brave, compassionate, and fearlessly push the boundaries of performance to make shows that speak to, reach and bring people together.
Our daring and audacious spirit drives sector change by delivering socially engaged, unforgettable shows and legacy packages. We go to the heart of injustice, working collaboratively with local communities, participants, artists, third sector partners and arts organisations to ensure our work serves the people and promotes community belonging and empathy.
Based in Harlow, Essex, with nation-wide impact, we are making bold, ambitious moves to secure a future as global leaders in original dance theatre with a social purpose, to champion community transformation and authentic belonging for all.
Rhiannon Faith Company have been nominated for five National Dance Awards; ‘Best Independent Company’ 2021, 2022 & 2023, ‘Best Digital Choreography’ (DROWNTOWN LOCKDOWN) in 2021 and ‘Best Dance Film’ (DROWNTOWN live film) in 2022. In addition, Rhiannon Faith was nominated for an AWA Women In Dance Leadership Award 2022.
RFC’s new work, Lay Down Your Burdens, is Co-commissioned by The Barbican, London and Harlow Playhouse, and Premiered at the Barbican in November 2023 and will tour nationally in 2024. The work has been been nominated for a 2024 Olivier Award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Dance’ and shortlisted for a 2024 One Dance UK Award for ‘Innovation in Dance’.
International touring work DROWNTOWN is about broken towns and communities, and a brokenness within. The work tackles themes of loneliness, isolation and failed support systems, devised and performed by a cast of six intergenerational performers with personal experience of themes. Development included workshops with people in recovery from addictions, in partnership with Cascade Creative Recovery Cafe & Brighton Dome.
DROWNTOWN completed a 2021 digital tour, and a live 10-date National tour 2022-23, receiving 4STAR reviews in The Observer, The Stage and The Reviews Hub. In October 2023 DROWNTOWN had its International Premiere at Wuzhen Theatre Festival, China, performing 3 sold out shows to over 1200 audiences.
The 2018 Smack That (a conversation), commissioned by Harlow Playhouse in partnership with domestic abuse charity Safer Places and their service users, raises awareness of domestic abuse, providing victims with a platform to change the world. After a sold-out run at the Barbican, Smack That toured nationally to critical acclaim (4 STARS The Observer & The Stage), was shortlisting for a 2018 One Dance UK Award for ‘Innovation in Dance’ and won the Essex High Sheriff Award for contribution to community safety. Smack That was published by Oberon Books as their first ever instructional dance play, sold worldwide and performed by college students across the country.
With Safer Places we created a groundbreaking legacy package training venues to become J9 venues, safe places for victims of DA to seek help. 12 UK arts venues joined, including the Barbican and HP.
RFC is based at Harlow Playhouse, where Rhiannon Faith has been Associate Artist since 2018. RFC works closely with Harlow Playhouse to embed high quality art into local communities and use the arts as a first line intervention to improve health and wellbeing.
Together RFC and HP delivered the Mental Health Project 2019, including outdoor work I Talk To The Clouds and They Cry With Me, and The Cloud Hub offering free community activity to tackle loneliness and suicide in Harlow. Our current project The Care House is developed with and for Harlow communities to improve mental health and wellbeing, celebrate care and community, and provide hope for a better future. The project includes co-created art works, socially prescribed creative health workshops, and a community festival in Harlow Town centre.
Rhiannon Faith Company is an Arts Council England NPO, and a member of Harlow Creates.