A newly formed theatre ministry from Sterling College is already making an international impact.
GhostLight, a theatre outreach ensemble created through Sterling College Theatre, recently traveled to Oxford, England, where students used performance and discussion to engage young people in conversations about friendship, loneliness, and faith.
The inaugural GhostLight team included students Violet Epp of Hesston, Mari Inchauriga of Hutchinson, Makenzy Carter of Wichita, and Claire Norris of Wellington, accompanied by theatre director Lesa Brown. Following a theatre trip to London, the group partnered with The Oxford Schools Chaplaincy to present two workshops at The Swan School in Oxford.
The connection came through Sterling College English professor Dr. Sarah Waters, a native of Britain who introduced the group to the organization.
The workshops, titled “Can You See Me?”, were designed to help students explore themes of friendship and belonging through interactive theatre activities and discussion. One workshop was held for an after-school Christian club serving students in grades six through 10, while the second was presented to a high school drama class.
Brown adapted each session to its audience. The Christian club workshop included discussions about Christ-centered friendship and how Christians are called to reach out to others. The drama class focused more broadly on friendship and community while also highlighting opportunities available through the school’s Christian club.
“Our goal was to use theatre as a way to create meaningful conversations and relationships,” Brown said.
Students participated in warm-up games, collaborative activities, and Image Theatre exercises, which encouraged them to create visual metaphors for friendship and discuss their meaning. GhostLight members also performed several original pieces designed to spark conversation.
The performances included an ensemble monologue, a documentary theatre piece titled “In Common” featuring quotations from C.S. Lewis, and Community Garden, a play written by Sterling College Theatre student Chandler Reiman. The group also presented a Forum Theatre piece that invited audience members to suggest ways characters could change the outcome of a story.
“The purpose of the performances was to demonstrate themes in creative ways and open dialogue,” Brown said. “We discussed reasons friendship can be difficult and ways we can grow in building meaningful relationships.”
According to Brown, the workshops were well received by both students and organizers.
“The experience overall was a success,” she said. “We were able to build relationships with the students in a short amount of time, the conversations were lively and meaningful, and the students seemed interested and engaged.”
Workshop host Hemara Earl expressed gratitude for the program and later told Brown she had already incorporated some of GhostLight’s activities into her own work with students.
Beyond the workshops, the group explored Oxford’s rich history and culture. They toured Balliol College, one of Oxford University’s oldest colleges, attended Choral Evensong at Christ Church Cathedral, enjoyed a traditional English tea, and spent time exploring the city’s bookstores and historic sites.
For Sterling College Theatre, the Oxford experience marks the beginning of GhostLight’s mission to use theatre as a tool for service, connection, and faith-based outreach.
“I would love to return and perhaps do a more substantial outreach there,” Brown said.
