Helping artists and organisations lead co-creation with confidence

About me
Work with me
A woman with brown hair and hoop earrings, wearing a white button-up shirt, smiling while standing against a plain white background. Credit Emilie Lashmar.

I’m Naomi Alexander — theatre maker, community builder, and CEO of Brighton People’s Theatre. I work with universities, arts organisations, private, public and voluntary sector bodies to develop co-creative practice that is ethical, playful, and genuinely transformative.

How I can help

Peer supporter

I can walk alongside artists navigating the complexity of co-creative practice.


Executive producer

I can support your co-created show from concept to closing night — working safely, ethically, and playfully.


Trainer

I run workshops for arts organisations and at conferences — generating new knowledge about co-creation.


Guest lecturer

University and drama school visits — enabling students to reflect critically on co-creative leadership and practice.


  • 'Naomi Alexander delivered an outstanding workshop for our Audiences Engagement and Participation MA students at the University of Leeds as part of our Culture and Participation module. She is an exceptional facilitator: warm, clear, and highly skilled in creating space for open, reflective and energised discussion. Her session introduced students to vital questions about the ethics and practice of facilitation, rooted in deep experience and underpinned by her research. Naomi’s work is a must for anyone working in participatory practice or serious about doing co-production well. I would highly recommend her as both a practitioner and thinker in this space.’

    Alexander De Little, Lecturer in Creative Practice and Performance, University of Leeds

  • "Co-creation is fast being recognised for what it has always been - a deeply honed craft. It's not something that anyone can just pick up and do - it requires knowledge, practice, understanding and a conscious human-ness. It has its own inherent artistry. Naomi's important, pioneering work will help all of us who make collaborative work with young people and community groups to better name and understand what we do - and to help others learn how to do it too."

    Ned Glasier, Founder and Former Artistic Director, Company Three

  • “To assume collaborative practice/co-creation are things everyone can do - devalues and fails to see the incredible skill set, expertise and experience that those who do it daily, whose practice - is centred on communities, inclusion, radical non-hierarchical pedagogies and care. Thinking of the anatomy of collaborative creation - helps us see all the tools that enable brilliant facilitation to happen. Naomi has given language, and labels, to these qualities and skills - and, ‘in seeing these gifts’ - we are able to learn how to be better, to do better, to learn and dream up new ways forward.”

    Kane Husbands, Founder of The Pappy Show

  • “It was great to support Naomi on her research journey and see her pull together such insightful findings on leadership in co-created practice. Her report is already on the reading list for my students. Her website and podcasts are a welcome addition and promise to make an important contribution to professional development for those already working in the sector. I look forward to using them further in my own work.”

    Leila Jancovich, Professor in Cultural Policy and Participation at Leeds University

  • "Finally!! A piece of research that delves into the world of socially engaged performance making and the qualities and skills needed for an artist who chooses to co-create work with their community. I can't believe how long overdue this piece of work is."

    Jess Thorpe, Co-Artistic Director of Glass Performance

Recent Work

Brighton People’s Theatre

  • Museum of Life work in progress sharing March 2026

  • Training in Producing Co-Creation for artists and NPOs from across the UK March 2026

  • New 3 year business plan co-creating ‘1000 Moments of Togetherness’ produced

Smiling woman tossing a white cloth in the air during a cooking class, with other women watching and participating. Image courtesy of Brighton People's Theatre of Brighton Festival production of Born and Bread. Credit Rosie Powell.

Podcast & Research

  • Podcast listened to in 36 countries around the world

  • Research report downloaded 1000s of times

  • Theatre critic, Lyn Gardner from The Stage “wholeheartedly recommends” the podcast

Guest Lecturer and Trainer

  • Ran a successful long form workshop at the International Community Arts Festival in Rotterdam - March 2026

  • Guest lecturer at the University of Leeds and the Guildford Conservatoire

  • Trained staff and Associate Artists at Company Three