Posted on: 1 May 2026
One Community’s latest Well Written performance took place at the Playground Theatre, exploring the theme of peace through poetry, music, singing, dance and visual art. Created and performed by members, the afternoon offered perspectives on what peace means, where we can find it and how we chose to create it.
You can watch back the performance here.
A packed theatre heard original poems, songs and spoken word pieces developed through One Community’s weekly sessions. Performances explored everything from trauma and healing to connection and understanding, with peace described not just as the absence of conflict, but as something more personal - a sense of safety and compassion. Set against the backdrop of a challenging global climate, the performance created a reflective space to connect with each other’s lived experiences.
One member shared a powerful poem about navigating relationships while living with psychosis, asking:
“When do you reveal? What if they reject me?”
Another spoke about the loss of her son, and how her cat, Nala, helped her find moments of peace during an incredibly painful time. She described how Nala became her family - waiting for her at the door when she came home, offering quiet comfort. As she put it:
“I never looked for her, she found me. Now I can’t imagine life without her.”
There was a moving entreaty urging the audience not look away from homelessness and inequality:
"Oh darling, don’t go there...
All the beautiful lost people hidden inside like a human store, all because most of us never had a choice and were born poor,
Cells are a form of torture in a country at war."
Founding member Laura Cavill shared a mix of poems she had written herself, alongside a poem written by her mother, who lives with multiple sclerosis. She also shared an ode to One Community, capturing what it means to those involved:
"You are a force field keeping us strong when the tides rip through the hearts of houses, our homes even when towns are flattened. You have provided us safety, care, security and creativity which flows in each of us.
A space where we explore ourselves and learn how to embrace in peaceful hearts. We are One Community, yes we are.
All experiencing recovery in our own ways but on common ground, which we invite ourselves to do.
We bring our best, we bring our worst both are welcomed and accepted for we have trust hope and faith in one another.
Thank you Cate Latto, you have saved lives confidently and spread a simple empathetic connection ever growing through every one of us, and many many more in the future.
We are proud of you, Cate & Abdul too (Cate’s wing man). We know you have pride in us. We know we are heard, even through our silences.
Ever the container for the uncontainables.
With gratitude to you all who witness our journeys thriving. Much loveliness from One Community. Spreading connection as it grows through us.”
She also read a piece written by Ruth Isaacs, reflecting on Ruth’s time in hospital during Covid. The poem paid tribute to a close friendship formed on the ward - someone who helped her find moments of peace during an incredibly difficult time, and whose impact stayed with her long after she left the hospital.
Ruth’s sister, Delila, joined us at the theatre, making the moment especially meaningful. One Community took the opportunity to thank Ruth for her warmth and passion, and to remember Danny Irving, a much‑loved member whose spirit inspired the music studio project.
One Community is a grassroots, service‑user‑led movement, supporting mental health recovery through creativity, mutual support and connection, showing how powerful it can be when people are given space to tell their own stories.
The event brought everyone, an audience of family, friends and community, to their feet for an encore of the catchy original 'Whoop Whoop I’m in Love' radiating positivity and love all round.
At the event, Founder, Cate Latto, thanked all there including the Kensington & Chelsea Foundation who were in the audience, and shared:
“One Community is about coming together, no matter what we’ve been through. We create memories that help us keep going when life feels overwhelming. Resilience feels like the right word for us - like King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table – although we each have our own adventures, we come together, stand side by side and fight for peace.”
Well Written
Well Written began in 2019 as a collaboration between One Community Founder, Cate Latto, the then Artistic Director of The Playground Theatre, Anthony Biggs, playwright, Stewart Permutt and founding member Laura Cavill.
One Community is supported by the Kensington and Chelsea Foundation, with growing partnerships across the NHS, local authorities, the voluntary sector, and academic institutions.
To support or to find out more, please contact: cate.latto@nhs.net
