Jo's Story
Serving Hackney - from the stage to estates
It all began at a kitchen table, with Jo Carter and Clara Onyemere imagining a kind of theatre rooted in the right here, right now of Hackney life. From the start, they knew that sharing stories and imagining change could make a difference. Jo had grown up being given the tools to speak and create in the world of professional theatre and she recognised that many in the community hadn’t been afforded that same chance. Early projects took them onto housing estates, lunch clubs, and community centres, where Jo discovered that the heart of the work was about listening, gathering people’s experiences and ambitions and shaping them into stories of hope. Story wasn’t just something to tell—it was something to receive with care, courage and humility.
Over 30 years, Jo shaped Immediate Theatre, but in truth, it shaped her. It gave her belonging in Hackney, a purpose that still gets her out of bed, and a lifetime of people whose stories have woven into her own. She learned to hold two roles at once—expert and innocent—listening deeply whilst identifying narrative patterns and giving truth a platform. Whether building the character of Kelvin with young black men to help shape council policy or enabling local young people to build careers in the arts, she found joy in helping others step into their power.
As I shape Immediate Theatre,” she says, “Immediate Theatre shapes me.
Jo Carter
From engaging with the challenging housing estates of the 1990’s, to creating theatre which encouraged thousands of older people to take up home safety checks, to working with patients to create an award-winning immersive training experience about dual diagnosis, Jo has always believed the arts can help communities imagine themselves differently. Play lets people try on new identities; story lets systems see the human behind the statistic.
‘Being part of a community can make life feel more meaningful and enjoyable, help us feel happier and safer, and improve our mental health’ (Mental Health Foundation). As Jo reminisces on the early days, she acknowledges the courage that having other people’s stories to share has given her, highlighting a core principle, Immediate Theatre is not about her; it is about the community and belongs to the community. It is
Inclusive – working at the grassroots and celebrating diversity
Interactive – involving communities throughout the creative process
Imaginative – finding new ways to engage with vital issues
Through partnerships, compassion, and fearless presence, Immediate Theatre has helped build spaces where people feel seen, connected, and capable of change—right here, right now.