Fallen Angels Dance Theatre exists to support those in recovery from addiction to transform their lives and to share their recovery journeys through dance. Our values also reflect the way we want to work. We are passionate, ambitious, collaborative and inclusive. These values and their impact were clearly demonstrated in practice, throughout the programme of work achieved during 23/24.  

Highlights of the year included performances of ‘Traces Through Time’, a deeply moving exploration of the complex journeys of recovery, to life altering transformation through dance, music and spoken word. The performances were created in collaboration with the world’s first recovery orchestra, New Note Orchestra, based in Brighton. Funded by Arts Council England, Garfield Weston and the Foyle Foundation, the production premiered at Storyhouse Chester and the Linbury Theatre at the Royal Opera House, London. This production brought together over 40 recovery performers, raised artistic ambitions and helped to change the conversation about addiction and recovery life experiences.  

Another highlight was the Spreading Wings celebratory event which saw the culmination of three years of new community programme including outreach work, training and mentoring activity to those in recovery. The three-year funding award from the National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund, which supported this project, provided FADT with the largest community grant to date and allowed the company, for the first time, to appoint an engagement worker to work alongside the Artistic Director. This project helped FADT to realise their ambition of reaching and working with a vulnerable community in depth.  

New partnerships were made during this year, one with the criminal justice sector, via Interventions Alliance Warrington & Liverpool, which aims to collaborate with organisations to support the most vulnerable to build a better future. A new dance recovery partnership was built with Theatre Porto, a cultural hub in Ellesmere Port which has attracted many new participants and connections.  

In addition, weekly dance/ movement sessions were held in Chester, Liverpool, Wigan and Salford. Continuing professional dance development sessions were undertaken with professional dancers and recovery specialists and number of webinars, talks and performances were delivered at Recovery Conferences and other venues across the country.  

In total during 23/24, FADT attracted 166 unique individuals in recovery to take part, 266 dance/movement sessions were delivered, 28 commissioned workshops were undertaken to enhance our earned income and remarkably five new professional performances were shown across the country, attracting large audiences, opening up discussion and helping to dismantle the stigma of addiction.  

Corporately, the board of trustees worked on the development of a Risk Register, based on the Charity Commission’s framework, focusing on artistic, financial, process and participant systems. We continued work on the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy and enacted these policy outcomes via changes to the website, Board management and artistic productions.  

During this year we welcomed our first Ambassador, Hannah Rudd, a long-term collaborator with Fallen Angels and a dance artist teacher and choreographer. A new trustee was appointed to the Board, Wendy Dossett, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at Chester University and an activist in the Visible Recovery Movement. We look forward to harnessing their experience and strengthening our relationship with both Hannah and Wendy. Future work will include the production of a new immersive digital dance installation, the delivery of a volunteering policy and finding new ways and mean of generating more earned income.  

Finally, we would like to record our heartfelt appreciation for the hard work and dedication of Paul, Claire and all our staff, to our Patron, Robert Fox and to the Board of Trustees who generously donate their time and wisdom. Thank you to Storyhouse Chester and to our funders, supporters and partners, without whom we could not continue our work to explore the power that community and creative expression has to connect us all.