Supporting the performing arts to achieve greater equality, diversity and inclusion

About Tonic

Tonic is an independent organisation and charity that works with the performing arts and other cultural organisations to achieve greater equality, diversity and inclusion. Established in 2011, Tonic is now a leading agent for change, with a proven track record of enabling theatre, opera, music and dance companies to deliver lasting, positive results.

We do this in a number of ways including training, consultancy and workshops, led by our expert team of trainers and facilitators, and through writing and research, compiling comprehensive resources for the creative sector to use.

Our approach involves analysing the underlying principles of our industry – our working methods, decision-making processes and organisational structures – and showing how these may create barriers to equality, diversity and inclusion. Once these are identified, we can support you and your organisation to move forward and create tangible change.

“The work the National Theatre have been doing with Tonic is enhancing our understanding with both nuance and vision. In fact, Tonic has become increasingly pivotal in helping the entire industry, through organisations and individuals, raise its game.”
Rufus Norris, Director, National Theatre

Who we work with

We work with a range of leading organisations, big and small, in both subsidised and commercial sectors, from around the country and overseas too. Since 2011, we have worked with hundreds of organisations, and thousands of people, from members of youth theatre groups, drama schools, training institutions and the community arts sector though to renowned drama, opera and dance companies. We have now established a network of best practice in key organisations nationwide, and the UK performing arts industry is, as a result, more rigorous in its decision-making.

Beyond the performing arts, Tonic has experience delivering training in the wider cultural and creative sectors – for film companies, museums, galleries, heritage organisations and educational institutions. We’d be happy to discuss how we can adapt our training to suit your requirements.

“What’s great about Tonic is that it’s not superficial. The work it’s doing is subtle, nuanced and in depth and that’s what I really appreciate about Tonic.”
Indhu Rubasingham, Artistic Director, Kiln Theatre

What we do

Our Services

Recent Projects

Platform Plays

Empower

All Change Please: A Practical Guide to Achieving Gender Equality in Theatre by Lucy Kerbel. Photo: Gorm Ashurst

Books

Tonic Awards

Advance Network

Theatre Casting Toolkit

Our Recent Partners

WE ARE PROUD TO BE AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF CHANGE-MAKING IN THE CULTURAL SECTOR

“One of the most empowering and significant exercises in looking at equality that I have experienced”

Erica Whyman, Royal Shakespeare Company Deputy Artistic Director on Tonic's Advance
“Platform feels like something that could genuinely change the world. I was desperate for the opportunity to be a part of such a logical, practical and hopeful artistic project that can so clearly and directly impact not solely on gender-equality on stage, but equality worldwide.”

Playwright Joel Horwood, whose play This Changes Everything is part of the Platform series
“I just wanted to say a massive thank you for Tonic’s Platform plays. As a youth theatre of over 300, we constantly come up against the gender issue, and it is really refreshing to have plays that cater for mostly female casts, especially ones that are good. And they really are.”

Kate Plumb, Youth Theatre Director, York Theatre Royal
“essential… impressive scope and sweep… exhilarating. With luck, theatres will take note and playwrights will be inspired.”

Times Literary Supplement on 100 Great Plays for Women
“A gem of a book… Lucy Kerbel has done hard-working directors and artistic directors, of spaces large and small, a great service.”

Kate Mosse, from her foreword to 100 Great Plays for Women
“Lucy Kerbel’s work has become increasingly pivotal in helping the entire industry raise its game… this illuminating book answers the cynic, informs the impartial, converts the supporter into an activist and equips them all; not in a rallying cry of anger-fuelled idealism, but in a calm, pragmatic and clear-eyed way.”

Rufus Norris, Director of the National Theatre from his foreword to All Change Please
“Deep gratitude. Excellent event, outstanding speakers and masses of practical examples not theory.”

Attendee, Tonic Advance Network event
“It was really insightful and backed up by easy to understand examples. A good amount of personal reflection and group discussion.”

Participant, Unconscious Bias training session
“I can’t tell you how wonderful I thought your awards were. So refreshing and inspiring- I genuinely left feeling more like a member of a community than I’ve ever felt in the theatre before- ever!”

Guest at the Tonic Awards
“That was an extraordinary evening. Everyone I spoke to was trying, as was I, to articulate why and how it felt so beautiful and important and grounded and true.”

Guest at the Tonic Awards
“After the Empower sessions I feel I have gained the tools to navigate my way through difficult situations in the industry. Being able to communicate assertively and stand by my morals is absolutely necessary practice not just for work, but life.”

Third-year Acting student, after participating in Empower
“I think this was really useful for us all to take stock and look at the way we teach and how that can affect the students not only whilst in our lessons but also for the rest of their lives.”

Drama school tutor, after particpating in Empower

Who We Are

Meet the Team

Trustees

Tonic Trustees

Tonic’s Trustees are Craig Bennett, Moira Buffini, Eleanor Lang, Sita McIntosh (Chair), Sabina Mohideen, Mee-Ling Skeffington and Kirsty Starkey.

Lucy Kerbel

Director

Lucy founded Tonic in 2011 with the ambition of creating a sea change in how theatre and the performing arts thought about and acted in regards to equality, diversity and inclusion. Over the subsequent years she created Tonic’s ground-breaking range of programmes, methodologies and tools which have enabled individuals and organisations to achieve deep and sustained change. Today Lucy heads Tonic’s work, overseeing strategy, managing key relationships and delivering projects, sessions and events alongside Tonic’s team of facilitators.

Lucy is the author of two books: 100 Great Plays for Women and All Change Please – A Practical Guide to Achieving Gender Equality in Theatre, both published by Nick Hern Books. She is a regular speaker on diversity in the arts and her specialist subject: gender equality in theatre. She is a Director of the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for women playwrights.

Lucy has 20 years’ experience working in theatre and, prior to creating Tonic, was an award-winning director.

Helen Marriage

Commercial Manager

Helen’s first job in theatre was in the marketing department at the Theatre Royal Stratford East. Since then she has enjoyed a varied career in both theatre and publishing, working for some of the UK’s leading publishers across marketing, publicity and sales.

Helen thrives in creative environments with an inspiring mission at their core.

Vicky Long

Tonic Associate

Vicky is a consultant and producer, working across the arts. She tends to be involved in projects that aim at some kind of cultural shift. She has extensive experience of working with artists and arts organisations on the subject of climate change.

Other projects have focused on people and place, together with processes of cultural and environmental transformation. Over recent years she has worked with the Eden Project, Open University, Sheffield University, Ashden Trust, BBC, Siobhan Davies Dance, Southbank Centre, Forma and What Next?

Vicky also works as a facilitator, looking with clients within and beyond the cultural sector at matters of organisational change.

CONTACT

General Enquiries
info@tonictheatre.co.uk

Lucy Kerbel, Director
lucy@tonictheatre.co.uk

Helen Marriage, Commercial Manager
helen@tonictheatre.co.uk

Tonic Theatre
c/o National Theatre,
Upper Ground, South Bank
London, SE1 9PX

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