Quest Soul Theatre began in Bromley, South London, in January 2023 with a mission to provide inclusive, accessible creative arts workshops that support adult mental wellbeing. Founded by Mercedes Yearley, the company was born out of personal hardship and the search for a creative outlet and community.
Mercedes said: “It began during my own mental health crisis. I needed a space to do drama without pressure or performance, and I believed there were others who needed that too.”
Finding strength through creativity
Drama and performance have always been a constant for Mercedes. Even when daily life felt overwhelming, the stage offered a space for expression and release. Through connecting with others who felt the same, the idea for Quest Soul Theatre began to take shape.
They said: “I met other people who loved drama too, but who said they could never audition or be in a traditional performance setting. That’s when something clicked. I realised there must be others like me: people who love to express themselves but need a space where there’s no pressure, no judgement, just performance for the joy of it.”
Building a community through theatre
From starting out as a small weekly class, Quest Soul Theatre now delivers creative support and space to over 200 adults in Bromley, aged from their 20s to their 80s, including people living with dementia, learning disabilities, physical disabilities and mental health challenges.
When choosing how to structure the business, Mercedes decided that a Community Interest Company (CIC) offered the best foundation to grow sustainably while staying true to the organisation’s mission: to use creativity and play as tools for emotional wellbeing, confidence and human connection.
Mercedes said a CIC has allowed them to: “Build something creative and meaningful without needing trustees or formal charity governance. Yes, it’s messy at times, but if you’ve got a community-minded idea, a CIC gives you the freedom to make it real.”
Running a CIC can be challenging, but organisation and preparation can help. Mercedes suggests that the best thing you can do is just start; do your research and network with others in the area, from other local businesses to community groups, councils and funders. They said: “People want to help, and businesses want to support good things - they need to know you exist.”
Mercedes has found real joys in the process of starting and building Quest Soul Theatre. They said: “As a disability founder with ADHD, I find that I’m constantly fuelled by joy, novelty, and new ideas. These projects are born from that spark and I’m proud to be building things that bring people together, raise awareness, and support wellbeing in inventive ways.”
Supported by Start Up Bromley
Throughout their journey, Mercedes has received ongoing guidance from Start Up Bromley, GLL’s dedicated business start-up support service for social entrepreneurs in South London.
They said: “Start Up Bromley has been a great source of support during the early stages of building Quest Soul Theatre.
“I’ve used the community co-working space in Bromley Central Library, which has been really helpful to have access to, even just once a month, to get out of delivery mode and focus on the bigger picture.
“One of the best parts has been having Chandra as a constant point of contact. Even if I haven’t attended many workshops, mainly because I’ve been so busy delivering sessions, I’ve always popped in to speak to him. Those check-ins, conversations, and connections have made me feel supported and seen as a social entrepreneur.”
At GLL, we believe that collaboration, support and shared knowledge are key to helping social enterprises thrive.
If you’re starting or growing your own community-focused business, explore how our Start Up services can help you turn your ideas into impact.
