Firefly

Firefly is a free to join theatre company for men from different backgrounds, designed to support men’s mental health.

The group is named after the Firefly, a symbol of hope for the future – a fitting metaphor for the ability to see some light, or positivity, even when life seems shrouded in darkness.

Firefly meets weekly and is led by two experienced theatre facilitators. We are working towards devising and performing an original piece of theatre that will be performed in 2026 at the acta Theatre in Bedminster.

The first term of Firefly ran in 2024/2025 and culminated in the performance, Muckers.

“What makes this programme so brilliant is the combination of talk and action. We shared, discussed, and exchanged viewpoints on important issues like masculinity in society, and then we acted them out in a safe and supportive space. Life is never just positive or negative—it’s a spectrum. Being able to explore that range playfully, especially by acting out the more difficult emotions, felt like a powerful health practice. It’s something I believe pure talk-based approaches cannot achieve and was a real eye opener for me.” – Firefly member

Regular group:

Thursdays in term-time 2-3.30pm

If you’ve never thought of yourself as creative then we especially want to hear from you. We will support you to explore new ways of expressing yourself to help you overcome life’s hurdles. Firefly will be an engaging, fun, friendly and supportive environment, where participants will be inspired through creative games and exercises, to devise and tell imaginative and positive stories, whilst learning new skills and meeting new people.

Firefly is open to all men.

This group is made possible thanks to the generous support of The Baring Foundation.

If you have any questions, then please email info@acta-bristol.com or fill out the form below.