East Kent Ensemble — Performance

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.

Professional Artist Support

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

Community Wellbeing

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

Cultural Events & Productions

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

Training & Education

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

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

Tom, James & Mark · My Hair & Me, Herne Bay 2026

Current Projects

What's On &
Coming Up

Kiss Me Quick… Seaside Memories

Following the huge success of the 'My Hair & Me' performance, East Kent Ensemble & Sarah Baulch Gallery present a day of original stories, monologues and a short play — performed by professional actors and the community of Herne Bay.

Sun, August 16th, 2026 · 2pm & 5pm
The Old Church, 104 Mortimer St, Herne Bay CT6 5EB
No ticket required, just turn up — suggested donation £5

Open Call — Writer/Actors Wanted

Monologues by Writer/Actors wanted for Herne Bay Festival

This is an open call for new monologues with the theme of 'Kiss Me Quick — Seaside Memories'. Selected work will receive a paid commission of £50 for development and performance. DEADLINE 5TH JULY, 2026

On Sunday, August 16th 2026, East Kent Ensemble is hosting its second one-day performance festival at the Sarah Baulch Gallery in Herne Bay. This day of spoken-word performances from professional creatives alongside our local community will complement the gallery's 'Kiss Me Quick' Summer Art Exhibition.

We are looking for submissions for two monologues with a running time of 3–5 minutes which will be professionally edited and directed. The piece will be performed to audiences, twice during the festival day on Sunday, August 16th.

The monologue must fit the theme of 'Seaside Memories' — we are particularly interested in character driven work. Do you have a landlady with a story to tell? A lost child on Herne Bay beach? A 60s Mod on their first bank holiday scooter pilgrimage to the seaside? Have fun and let your imagination run wild!

WRITE A ROUGH DRAFT FOR THE 5TH JULY DEADLINE. Two successful candidates will then be commissioned to edit their work and read/perform it themselves — or alternatively, an actor will be hired on your behalf.

You must commit and be available to work on your performance draft through early August 2026, with a deadline of August 10th. You will be invited to attend a rehearsal the following week, either in person or on Zoom. If performing your piece, you are required to attend a rehearsal with the full company on the morning of Sunday, 16th August.

You are welcome to submit more than one monologue however if successful, only one of your ideas will be developed at this time.

Submit your rough draft by 11pm on 5th July with the heading MONOLOGUE SUBMISSION to eastkentensemble@gmail.com

East Kent Ensemble will endeavour to give feedback on your submission as we appreciate the work and thought that goes into the creative process. Please note that the Director's decisions are final.

Announcement

Actors Wanted Soon — Low-Budget Payment

We'll be looking for 2 masc presenting actors to be in a queer focused short play — more details on that to come.

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.

Dystin

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

Our Success Stories

We celebrate Kent culture through creativity. Events EKE produces are below — a growing record of our work. Community workshops demonstrate our belief that everyone has a story worth telling; our performances show the professional talent right here in our region.

Community
Creativity

My Garden Sanctuary — Community Writing Workshop

Herne Bay · 2026

My Garden Sanctuary community writing workshop was something truly special. It was deeply moving to watch people blossom — finding heartfelt, honest expressions of their true selves. To read the full poem written on the night by Patsy, one of our community writers, check out our East Kent Ensemble Instagram post.

Neighbours — Creative Writing Workshop

Studd Hill Community Bar, Herne Bay · May 2026

Our workshop celebrating our neighbours was fabulous! The feedback was tremendous — one participant stating that she wanted to present the prose she'd written to her friend and neighbour, whom she had first thought of as being very peculiar!

Neighbours creative writing workshop, Herne Bay May 2026

What Our Participants Say

In response to: "What was the most valuable thing about today's session for you?"

"Letting go and trying something new — not feeling judged. The session was reflective and made me appreciate relationships."

Jacqui Davis — Herne Bay

"The opportunity, encouragement and guidance to write again — I'm so glad I came along. Even on my own I was welcomed immediately."

Alice — Herne Bay

My Hair & Me
Performance Festival

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

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

"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, Artistic & Executive 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.