April 29, 2026 | Theatre,

Storycircle and The Secret Sharer

If you have never experienced a Storycircle before, the idea may seem a little intimidating. Sitting in a room full of strangers and being invited to share something personal about yourself is not necessarily most people’s idea of a relaxing night at the theatre. For a lot of us, vulnerability feels risky. Sometimes, even unsafe. Especially when we are used to being told to keep certain parts of ourselves quiet. But Storycircle isn’t about pressure. The beauty of it is its invitational nature.

In The Secret Sharer, the audience does not just sit and watch the story unfold from a distance. Instead, they become part of the environment itself, literally forming the ship’s perimeter in the show. That physical closeness changes the energy of the entire space. In keeping with the production’s structure, audience members are invited to share their own stories throughout the performance, helping co-create the environment. That is where Storycircle comes in. 

Storycircle is a practice rooted in listening just as much as it is in speaking. Participants are invited, not required, to share stories from their own lives, often inspired by themes that surface during the performances. Some people speak, some people do not. In a storycircle, both are equally valid. The power of storycircle is not in how much you say, but in the act of being present with each other. There is something quietly powerful about hearing someone else tell a story that feels familiar, even if you have never heard it before. A memory, a fear, a moment of feeling alone, or a moment of feeling understood. It’s in those spaces that the distance between strangers begins to shrink, and connection begins to grow. This practice is central to the work of DNAWORKS, the company behind The Secret Sharer. DNAWORKS creates interdisciplinary performances that focus on identity, culture, and community, cultivating a strong emphasis on dialogue and healing through the arts. Their work often includes community storycircles where audience members share personal experiences connected to the broader themes of each performance. The goal is not to just perform a story, but to create a space where audiences can connect with each other and reflect on their own lives. That safe space and sense of community feel especially important to The Secret Sharer.

This story is about an unlikely connection in isolation. The Captain and the stowaway are both outsiders in their own ways, separated from others by secrecy, fear, and uncertainty. The bond they form throughout the show is built on trust and vulnerability. Storycircle is crucial to this production because The Secret Sharer is not just about hiding, but rather, what happens when you’re finally seen. When people who feel alone realise they are not the only ones carrying the heaviest things alone. During the show, the audience mirrors the ship itself both literally and figuratively. Each person becomes part of the structure holding the story together. The shared space created through the storycircle becomes a kind of living, breathing environment, one built from memory, voice, and community. For some audience members, sharing a story or an experience may come naturally. For others, simply listening might feel safer. Both responses contribute to the bigger picture. Storycircle is not about performance or perfection. It is about honesty, no matter our differences.

In a world that often encourages silence, especially around identity, struggle, or difference, creative communities such as storycircle offer something refreshing and rare. The chance to speak without interruption and listen without judgment. Because sometimes the most powerful part of a story is not what happens on stage. Sometimes, it is what happens when they recognize themselves in others and, for a moment, realize they are not as alone as they thought.

If you are curious about experiencing Storycircle for yourself, The Secret Sharer invites you to step into the space and become part of the story. ArtsEmerson presents The Secret Sharer through May 3, 2026, at the Jackie Liebergott Black Box Theatre inside the Emerson Paramount Center. Limited tickets are still available and can be reserved online, over the phone, or in person at the Box Office.