Herne Bay, East Kent  ·  Est. 2026

Developing artists.
Strengthening communities.

East Kent Ensemble is a creative organisation rooted in Herne Bay — connecting professional actors, theatre companies and communities through the transformative power of performance and culture. We develop artists, deliver wellbeing programmes and bring communities together through exceptional live work.

EKE is a not-for-profit organisation which diverts all its revenue into benefitting local community projects and individuals. Become a valued investor in our theatre arts creatives by donating here. Every penny helps to enrich our region's cultural life.

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My Hair and Me cast, The Old Church Herne Bay March 2026
My Hair & Me  ·  The Old Church, Herne Bay  ·  March 2026

What We Do

Five Strands.
One Community.

01

Professional Artist Support

Rehearsal space, networking, resource sharing, collaborative producing, mentorship and advocacy for professional actors and small theatre companies across East Kent.

02

Community Wellbeing

Bespoke performance-based workshops for community groups, NHS social prescribing partners and social care organisations — supporting mental health, confidence and social connection.

03

Cultural Events & Productions

Co-productions, performances and cultural events bringing professional and community artists together for high-quality live performance across East Kent.

04

Training & Education

From creative writing workshops, acting coaching to professional development programmes — including career pathways covering all off-stage roles.

05

EKE for Business

Performance-based training for local businesses: brand communication, role-play scenarios, confidence and presentation skills workshops. Half-day sessions from under £500.

Tom, James and Mark performing at My Hair and Me, The Old Church Herne Bay
Tom, James & Mark  ·  My Hair & Me, Herne Bay 2026

Development Opportunities

Creative Writing
Lockdowns

East Kent Ensemble is passionate to make opportunities for the region's creatives. Therefore, we are delighted to announce regular Creative Writing Lockdowns — an investment in you, your writing, and future collaborations. Keep an eye on our Instagram for upcoming dates.

Performance based creative writing retreats for adults. Come and write in my garden!

I'm opening up my Herne Bay garden as a small writing retreat — a day or half day to finally give your writing the time and space it deserves.

There's a garden room with views over the fields, quiet corners to tuck yourself away, and the beach literally a minute's walk if you need a reset. I'll keep you fuelled with drinks, snacks and cake. Just bring your lunch — and your work.

Find your light.

Every writer comes to the page differently. Choose the strand that fits where you are right now:

Red-Light Lockdown
  • –Need a place to just get on with it? For writers confident in their project who want to work independently in a supportive environment. Suitable for novice and established writers.
  • –We begin together at 11am with a 30-minute welcome and an optional group focusing meditation — then the day is yours.
  • –Optional 15-minute group debrief at 5.30pm.
  • –Maximum 6 participants.
  • –Pay What You Can: £25 / £30 / £35 per day
Amber-Light Lockdown
  • –You've got a strong idea — but you need a nudge to get started or moving again. Includes dedicated 1:1 time.
  • –30–45 minute 1:1 tutorial at a time agreed on the day.
  • –Maximum 5 participants.
  • –Pay What You Can: £30 / £40 / £50 per day
Green-Light Lockdown
  • –You've got an idea or two but aren't sure where to start. Facilitator-led with stimuli and starting points.
  • –15-minute 1:1 tutorial towards the end of the session.
  • –Maximum 5 participants.
  • –Pay What You Can: £30 / £40 / £50 per half day. 11am–3pm.

East Kent Ensemble is dedicated to putting all profits towards the continuing development of artists in our region.

Keep an eye out on Instagram for coming dates of our Lockdowns

Current Projects

Creative Writing
Workshop for All!

'Neighbours'

They say you can't choose your family, well you certainly can't choose your neighbours! Whether sincere or silly, let's celebrate our community by creating work with the theme of 'Neighbours' and share our work with each other.

Monday 11th May · 6:30–8:30pm

Workshop 1

With an experienced facilitator, have fun creating a piece of writing from scratch with the theme of 'Neighbours'. No writing experience necessary.

Monday 18th May · 6:30–8:30pm

Workshop 2 (Optional)

Polish and edit your work. Practise reading your work aloud — perform to an invited, informal audience.

What do I bring?

A notebook, pen, an open mind and a sense of fun!

Cost

£5 per workshop — with profits going to our road fund.
£10 for non-residents.

Book your place at the Studd Hill Community Bar

Email eastkentensemble@gmail.com or just turn up!

'Kiss Me Quick'

Preparations are underway for the next EKE/Sarah Baulch Gallery co-production 'Kiss Me Quick' — short plays commissioned with a seaside theme, performed as part of the Herne Bay Festival on August 16th. Check our socials for more info.

Development Opportunities

Creative Writing Lockdowns — writing retreats for creatives of all levels. Find out more above.

Our Success Stories

My Hair & Me
Performance Festival

Before formally launching East Kent Ensemble, our founder self-funded a flagship one-day performance festival — bringing together cancer survivors, young neurodivergent people, elderly community members and professional actors on a shared stage in Herne Bay.

370Attendees
24Community Performers
£0External Funding
100%Positive Feedback

The Old Church & Sarah Baulch Gallery, Herne Bay  ·  March 2026

"I just wanted to say how deeply moving, inspirational, funny, thought-provoking and original a performance experience you all created… The stories from the community were sooo moving. Massive congratulations to all your hard work and commitment — we all loved it and I'm so glad I saw it twice."

Harriet Cater — East Kent Teacher & Parent

Community performer at My Hair and Me festival

My Hair & Me  ·  Sarah Baulch Gallery, Herne Bay  ·  March 2026

Space to Create

A Statement on Creativity
Without Conditions

An independent statement by East Kent Ensemble Ltd  ·  April 2026

There is a conversation that the arts sector needs to have with itself — and it is not comfortable. It concerns power, pressure and the quiet erosion of something fundamental: the right of artists to create without the weight of expected outcomes sitting on every brushstroke, every rehearsal, every idea that has not yet found its form.

East Kent Ensemble believes in protecting the space to create freely — a considered, evidence-informed position rather than naïve idealism.

We believe that the most important thing we can offer an artist is not a stage, not a fee, not a programme. It is a question asked genuinely, before anything else is decided: What do you actually need?

We believe that creativity explored without the pressure of predetermined outcomes — given space to breathe, fail, wander and discover — produces work of far greater depth and longevity than creativity engineered towards a deliverable.

Until East Kent Ensemble has a permanent base, all our operations will be small in scale and bespoke to the individual. That is not a limitation. It is, for now, our greatest strength.

"The most radical thing any arts organisation can do right now is sit down with an artist before they design anything. Ask what they need. Build from there."
— @thatcreativityco

That is what we intend to do.

Dystin Johnson, Founder and Director of East Kent Ensemble

Dystin Johnson

Founder & Director

Acting Credits Include

National Theatre, London The Royal Court Theatre EastEnders (BBC) Coronation Street (ITV) Shameless (Channel 4) Casualty (BBC) Rocks (Film) Leave to Remain (Film) Ghosts: The Possession of Button Hall (Film)

Leadership

Nearly Four Decades
of Extraordinary Experience

East Kent Ensemble is founded and led by Dystin Johnson — a highly accomplished theatre, television and film professional with nearly forty years of experience across every strand of the performing arts.

Dystin combines the credibility of a distinguished performance career with the practical expertise of a director, producer, writer and community practitioner. Her core belief — that with opportunity and recognition, individuals and communities rise in character and wellbeing — underpins everything EKE does.

Her corporate experience spans HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland, Shell PLC, Canary Wharf Group and the NHS — giving East Kent Ensemble a distinctive edge working with institutions, commissioners and procurement processes at scale.

Writing Credits Include

BBC / Royal Court 'The 50' National Theatre Attachment International Playwriting Festival Winner Alfred Fagon Award Runner-Up Hollyoaks Doctors Get Well Soon

Partners & Collaborators

Rooted in the Community,
Connected Across Kent

We are building East Kent Ensemble in genuine partnership — working alongside organisations, venues and networks that share our values.

The Kings Hall, Herne Bay Beach Creative CIC The Sarah Baulch Gallery Pier Ceylon Kent Actors Connected Odds and Sodds Theatre Co. Out The Box Theatre CIC The Actors' Lounge Slade Wolfe Enterprises Studd Hill Residents Assoc.

Actively seeking partnerships with Arts Council England, NHS Kent & Medway, Canterbury City Council, local schools and social prescribing services.

Income Forecast

A Diversified,
Resilient Financial Model

Our income strategy combines grant funding, public sector contracts and earned income — reducing reliance on any single source and building long-term financial resilience.

Get Involved

Let's Create
Something Together.

Whether you're a performer, community organisation, local business or potential funder — we would love to hear from you.

📍  Herne Bay, East Kent

✉  eastkentensemble@gmail.com

East Kent Ensemble Ltd  ·  Private Limited Company  ·  Founded 2026
Director: Dystin Johnson