Artivist’s Handbook

SPID Theatre (Social Progressive Interconnected Diverse), an award-winning leader in artistic activism, celebrates its 20th anniversary with a six-week run of their hit show, Artivist’s Handbook, a powerful, one-woman show written and performed by Helena Thompson (founder and artistic director, SPID Theatre). This innovative performance was developed over the charity’s 7-year refurbishment of their Grade II* listed theatre. Uplifting, educational and redemptive, the production highlights how Thompson raised £4 million to restore their council estate theatre, spear headed an estate wide refurbishment and sued RBKC, the landlord they share with the Grenfell Tower. 

SPID’s Artistic Director and Founder Helena Thompson comments, SPID views the Grenfell Tower fire as a symbol of interconnected climate, race, youth, and housing injustice. Through our art, petition, press and legal action we are calling for global legislation to safeguard our children, bodies, minds and planet.

To amplify the message that justice is the public face of love, Artivists’ Handbook launches SPID’s new campaign Join Justice, which fights for the human right to housing, race, climate and youth justice. This builds on SPID’s work with residents to create the Class Action film, enabling them to force the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to bring Kensal House up to standard with works that could cost £6m.  This year, SPID Theatre has also secured an additional £250,000 from RBKC towards capital works, compensation and fund youth work.

SPID’s Co Chair Naomi Israel comments, I am proud to have taken legal action against RBKC for their negligence of Kensal. I sadly lost friends who were killed in the Grenfell fire tragedy. I have first-hand witnessed how our landlord's systemic nature of neglect and its effect on Kensal over the years I have attended SPID. The fact that SPID’s boards now include Kensal House Residents Association members as well as those displaced by Grenfell shows our solidarity in fighting negligence.

Performance Dates: Friday 14th November – Saturday 13th December 2025

BOOK NOW

Venue details