"Using drama for social learning - ACU graduate Loretta Henry, Artistic Director of Elysium Theatre, worked with Primary education students today on the Brisbane campus making brown paper puppets to explore the issue of bullying. Such an easy but powerful way for children to tell non verbal stories. Arts' education changes lives!"
​Dr. Tracey Sanders (18/4/18)

Wonderful to see young adults playing 👏​
Response by Associate Vice-Chancellor Queensland Professor Jim Nyland to Narratives of Hope and Elysium Theatre's recent production - WHO ARE WE? WE ARE.
See below.
WHO ARE WE? WE ARE was a production that combined stories within stories, within stories; Indigenous stories, people with disabilities, disease, stories of homelessness, refugees, migrants, courage, dreams and hopes. There are stories of mentors who have been confronted and humbled by their experience, stories of how we consolidate as a community and ultimately, as a society. Narratives of Hope Ensemble (NOHE) has emerged from the community owned program, Narratives of Hope, which has used the platform of storytelling to build new communities of understanding, to change perceptions about ‘the other’ and to create a more hopeful and peaceful future for all, including wider community. This has allowed participants to self-advocate and advocate on behalf of their communities through digital media, art or public speaking. Elysium Theatre worked with participants of the program and mentors to develop a performance using Brown Paper Puppets, as another way of storytelling that is not confronting for the participants or the audience and which still allows the individual to have a voice.
SANDBAG is an acronym for Sandgate and Bracken Ridge Action Group. We are an independent community organisation with more than 100 members and have been a valued part of the North Brisbane community for twenty-five years.
Elysium Theatre would like to provide ongoing opportunities for audiences to have FREE access to its productions as part of its Community Engagement Plan (CEP). It is important that the whole community has access to the ARTS regardless of economic status or other restrictions.

Elysium Theatre joined forces with Sandgate and Bracken Ridge Action Group (SANDBAG) to include theatre as part of a 'community wellness' concept,  in addition to the programs SANDBAG already run, "which responds to people who are facing challenges in their lives such as:
  • Domestic Violence
  • Unemployment
  • Social Isolation
  • Disabilities
  • Mental Health
  • Crisis connected with health issues, homelessness, relationship issues, income support, literacy, legal matters  for example.
SANDBAG supports active and inclusive communities by connecting people to activities, programs and services, and creating opportunities with them to connect with their peers. Staff are experienced and approachable and help people navigate to the services they need. SANDBAG values the strong relationships it has with its networks and actively engages with people across all parts of the community throughout the 4107 area and beyond." 
www.sandbag.org.au/about-sandbag/
WHO ARE WE? WE ARE
​Narratives of Hope was a community owned program using the storytelling platform to build new communities of understanding; to change perceptions about ‘the other’ & to create a more hopeful, peaceful future for all who are involved in it & the wider community.
This production, storytellers and their mentors of the Narratives of Hope group, http://narrativesofhope.weebly.com came together as the Narratives of Hope Ensemble (NOHE) and participated in a ten-week course facilitated by Elysium Theatre.  During the course, participants used the puppetry medium to develop a shared story of what it means to be young and Australian within the diverse cultural backdrop and experiences that are now part of the Australian experience including the joy and horror, opportunities and exploitation, loss and ultimately hope.