The Leaveners is the Quaker Performing Arts Organisation for the Religious Society of Friends in Britain. The Leaveners was formed by a group of enthusiastic Friends, involved in the arts, who wanted to use their experience of the creative arts as a way of expressing their Quaker faith and values and has been raising the creative spirit through theatre, music and drama in Britain Yearly Meeting since 1978. Our projects continue to challenge members through music and drama exploring Quaker history, current social issues and spirituality. Our current work falls into three areas, the Quaker Youth Theatre, Quaker Music Making and Words, Signs & Vibes.

The Quaker Youth Theatre started in 1978 as a street theatre and runs regular large cast performance projects and issue based workshop weekends. QYT also offers travelling workshops to local Quaker meetings.

Quaker Music Making has performed a number of original cantatas and oratoriosas the Quaker Festival Orchestra and Chorus covering a range of themes. QMM offers weekends for singers and musicians to gather and play together. We also offer singing and drumming workshops for local meetings.

The Leaveners have recently launched Words, Signs & Vibes an innovative drama project working with deaf, hard of hearing and hearing young people in Birmingham, where the Leaveners is based.

Individuals come together with a sense of a common purpose and a strong community feeling to produce dynamic new performances.The Leaveners also seeks to reach out to all ages and all abilities to encourage community drama and music making within local Quaker meetings. The Leaveners welcomes new members, both Quakers and non-Quakers, young and old, from around the world to our projects.

Mission Statement:
The Leaveners welcomes anyone whether a Friend or not to experience the power of the creative spirit to release energy, vision and a commitment. Through the use of participatory art, especially music and drama, we aim to give expression to contemporary Quaker values and faith and to raise awareness of issues of social injustice, non-violence and spirituality.