Access to Play

Are you ready?

We’re excited to share that we have officially opened our Benue State Sub-Office for Access to Play.

This new office, together with our dedicated team on the ground, will contribute to the humanitarian space through our Resilience Building Project. Through the use of Improv and Playback Theatre, we aim to support Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) by creating safe spaces for expression, healing, and community connection.

We look forward to working alongside partners and communities in Benue State to strengthen resilience, amplify voices, and foster hope through the power of play and storytelling.

Applications are open for the Art Africa Internship Program 2026

Access to Play introduces the Art Africa Internship Program 2026, a new opportunity for young Africans to train in Playback Theatre and Improvisational Theatre. The program is designed to support young performers to tell their stories, develop their creativity, and connect with a global community of theatre practitioners.

Program Details
Duration: January – June 2026
Format: Hybrid (online and in-person workshops)
Eligibility: Ages 18–30 (female and Black candidates highly encouraged)
Cost: Free

Participants will gain training, mentorship, and the opportunity to perform at the Global Playback and Improv Gathering in Nigeria from June 21 to 27, 2026.

Apply now at https://accesstoplay.org/artafrica2026/

Improv Saturday on the 15th of November in Abuja. Don’t miss it. FREE entry

At Access to Play, we believe in the power of women coming together by sharing their voices, stories, and strength. By creating safe spaces for dialogue, connection, and resilience building, we are fostering healing and empowerment.
Through collective support and shared experiences, women are not just healing, they are growing, leading, and strengthening their communities for a brighter, stronger future.
Together, we rise.

Today is World Cleanup Day, a global movement uniting millions of volunteers, organisations, and communities to clean up our planet.
At Access to Play, we believe that safe, clean, and inclusive play spaces are essential for every child’s development. When we clean up our environments, we’re not just protecting nature, we’re creating healthier, more joyful places for children to play, learn, and grow.
A clean world is a playable world.
Whether you’re picking up litter, recycling, or raising awareness, your actions matter.
Join us in celebrating the power of community, care, and collective action. Let’s make space for play and protect the planet while we do it.

Please follow our theatre ensemble on IG

They were quiet at first
Shy glances. Small steps.
Then one girl reached for another’s hand… and the laughter followed.

In that moment it wasn’t just a game. It was healing.

At Access to Play, we see this every day. In communities touched by crisis, children come to our spaces carrying more than just school bags. They carry fear, loss, and silence.

But through group play, something shifts. They learn to laugh again. To trust. To lead. To follow. To belong.

🎈 Play becomes more than fun. It becomes a bridge back to childhood.
Because every child deserves more than survival.
They deserve joy, friendship, and the freedom to feel safe again.

✨ Let’s build those moments together.

Today, our team visited the NYSC FCT Secretariat with a shared purpose: service and partnership.
As part of our commitment to youth engagement, Access to Play donated recreational materials to help make camp life more fun, connected, and enriching for corps members.
We also shared an exciting vision for 2026 with the re-launch of our “Theatre for Social Justice” program.
Through Free Listening, Playback Theatre, and Improvisational Theatre, we aim to mentor over 200 corps members as volunteers in the FCT, equipping them with tools for mental health support, trauma recovery, and community-building.
We believe that creativity, storytelling, and Play are powerful agents of change.
Together, we can empower corps members not just as future leaders, but as changemakers of today.
We are committed to creating spaces where young people can thrive, heal, and make a real impact.

Who knew a simple game of tag could spark so much joy?
At the Mega IDP camp, laughter echoed and bonds were formed as women came together through play.
In the midst of hardship, these moments remind us that connection, teamwork, and joy are always possible.
We believe in the power of play to heal, unite, and bring a sense of normalcy—one smile at a time.