We’re hosting Improbable’s unconventional convention Devoted & Disgruntled this weekend, and ahead of an exciting few days of discussion and debate, we caught up with the team to find out more about what you can expect when you join us. 

Hi Improbable, can you tell us a bit about who you are?

We’re theatre-makers and facilitators, and improvisation sits at the heart of everything we do. Over the past 25 years, we’ve created large-scale outdoor spectacles like Sticky (seen by over 250,000 people), reimagined classics such as The Tempest at Northern Stage, and developed intimate puppetry like Animo across the country.

We also support initiatives like Through the Door, which nurtures improvisation led by women and non-binary artists, and M/Others Who Make, an international network for artist-parents. Alongside our artistic work, we’re one of the UK’s leading facilitators of Open Space Technology, and since 2006 we’ve grown Devoted and Disgruntled (D&D) into a nationwide community exploring the future of the performing arts.What is Devoted & Disgruntled and why was it created?

Devoted & Disgruntled is a nationwide conversation about theatre and the performing arts using Open Space Technology to facilitate gatherings where everyone’s voice can be heard and no topic is censored. There are no key-note speakers and no fixed agenda – you decide what gets worked on at the event. If we’re going to change the world for the better, we all need time and space to collaborate on an equal footing. Devoted & Disgruntled is that time and space.

“D&D was born out of frustration. I was frustrated both with theatre and with myself. I knew things could be better… and I also knew the way I responded to that situation could be more creative. I wanted to stop moaning and actually do something about it. The Devoted & Disgruntled events and the community that has developed around them involve people taking responsibility for making better theatre and making theatre better… The events are liberating because they create an environment of possibility.” – Phelim McDermott, Co-Artistic Director of Improbable

Who would you say D&D is for?

D&D is for anyone and everyone interested in theatre and the performing arts. No prior experience is necessary. Whether you’re an artist, theatre maker, a student, a teacher, a politician, or none of these things, D&D is for you. If you’re curious, come with an open mind and heart and find your community.

Could you tell us a bit about the day itself?

It really is an exciting event! Participants self-organise to create their own agenda on the day, allowing a dynamic and immediate response to the issues at hand. The process allows free-flowing conversations about the things that really matter to the people in the room.

The process starts with all participants meeting in a circle whilst the facilitator explains the process. There is a chance for anyone present to suggest a topic they want to work on, and once all the topics have been timetabled, participants move into smaller, informal and flexible break-out conversations to work on the topics they are interested in. These break-out sessions can take a variety of forms, from chatting to action, song or play. At the end of the event, the group meets together again to share any observations or action points with each other.

We’re thrilled to be back at Shoreditch Town Hall again this year for the 2nd year in a row! We really value the collaboration we have with them. The town hall feels like a perfect place to host D&D as the building too is a space for new ideas, progression and dialogue.

If you want to know more, watch the D&D explainer video by clicking here.What have previous attendees had to say about D&D?

“This is a place where expertise and experience are shared with real generosity and no strings attached. Devoted and Disgruntled is not just a talking shop – it actually spurs action and initiatives such as mentoring schemes, the sharing of skills and spaces, and people coming together creatively and making work.” – Lyn Gardner, Associate Editor of The Stage

“Some of my most valuable memories of D&D are around sitting with discomfort, things that felt like conflict, and using the principles and the space held by Improbable to move through that in a radically different way.” – Pav Christodoulou, Creative Director and Co-CEO of Boundless Theatre

“Devoted and Disgruntled felt like walking into the living room of the industry, realising I was part of it, and experiencing a space where everyone felt comfy enough to take off their coats, sink in, put the kettle on and say what really mattered.” – Flo O’Mahony, Artistic Director of Zoo CoAnything else you’d like visitors to know?

If you haven’t been to D&D or an Open Space before, don’t worry, everything will be explained at the start of Day 1. You do not need to prepare anything but if you would like more details, here are some other things you might find helpful to know:

Refreshments: Free tea and coffee will be provided throughout the weekend for participants but food will not be provided. However, there are many cafés nearby you can pop over to.

Access: Live captions are provided only for opening and closing circles only but BSL interpreters will be present for the whole day. There is a ramp from the street to the main foyer, and a passenger lift providing step-free access to the space. An accessible toilet which also has baby changing facilities can also be found in the ground floor foyer.

Open Space is always a relaxed event and Shoreditch Town Hall‘s Quiet Space is available throughout for anyone who needs it. This is a signposted room off the foyer, on the ground floor of the building. We welcome neurodivergent participants.

Personal assistants and carers are always admitted free of charge when supporting the person you care for. Assistance dogs are welcome too. If you require the support of companion animals, please get in touch with the venue so we can ensure we are prepared to accommodate them.

To find out more about accessibility information visit, Improbable’s website here. 

We can’t wait to see you there! 

Images by Corinne Cumming