Record-breaking participation at Green Light 2026

A record-breaking number of people in Thurrock have experienced creative events thanks to Green Light 2026.

Delivered by Start Thurrock, this year’s two-week celebration of free creativity saw 528 people actively take part in workshops and activities across the borough – a remarkable 62% increase on 2025’s 325 participants.  

Audience numbers more than doubled too, rising from 382 in 2025 to 861 in 2026.  

Across 21 events in 14 venues, 35 artists worked with communities in towns throughout the borough, bringing theatre, music, craft, technology and hands-on creativity directly to local neighbourhoods.  

Expanding into Aveley, East Tilbury, Corringham and Stanford-le-Hope for the first time, as well as South Ockendon, Chadwell St. Mary and Purfleet–on-Thames, the 2026 programme ensured even more residents could access high-quality creative experiences close to home.  

Start Thurrock’s Creative Director, Katie Beadle, said:

“We always believed Green Light could grow, but this year’s response has been incredible becoming the biggest and most successful programme yet. Seeing more than 500 people roll up their sleeves and try something creative – many for the first time – is exactly what this programme is about.  

“The uplift in participation shows there is a real appetite for accessible, welcoming creative activity in Thurrock. We’ve successfully expanded into new towns with almost all our events across the borough selling out. The energy in every venue has been fantastic.”  

From Brazilian drumming to robot racing, family theatre to basket weaving, Green Light 2026 offered something for every age and ability. All sessions were either fully booked or near capacity, with demand so high that Start Thurrock funded many extra sessions and places to reduce waiting lists. 

The growth in both family-friendly shows and adult-only creative workshops reflects a wider cultural shift in the borough – with more residents choosing to experience live performance and creative events locally.

Green Light is part of Start Thurrock’s ongoing mission to work alongside communities to co-create cultural experiences that feel relevant, joyful and rooted in place.  

Start Thurrock is a Creative People and Place programme supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and was launched after Thurrock was identified as having a lower than average engagement in the arts and culture.  

To find out more about future events, visit: https://www.startthurrock.org

Aston spoke to Roxie Curry, executive director at Start Thurrock.