Legacy & Resources

Continuing Coney’s legacy

Though Coney has closed as an organisation, the ideas, methodologies, and approaches that defined our work continue to live on through the people who shaped them. Our fifteen-year journey created ripples that extend beyond the boundaries of the organisation itself.

This page highlights some of the ways Coney’s distinctive practice continues to thrive in new contexts and through different voices. From former team members establishing new ventures to methodologies being adapted for different settings, elements of what made Coney special can still be found in the wider world of interactive arts and social change.

In this space, you’ll also find testimonials from the Coney community. We hope you enjoy reading them as much as we did.

While we cannot capture every instance where Coney’s influence lives on, we hope this page serves as a guide for those seeking to connect with the ongoing evolution of our approach to creating change through play.

Where to find us

Koro

Marie Klimis, Coney’s former Senior Producer (2022–2024), has launched an exciting new venture, Koro. Koro brings untold stories to life in immersive and unexpected ways, blending theatre, design, and interactivity to craft powerful and joyful experiences. Through Koro, Marie continues to connect people and invite them to explore new perspectives in creative and meaningful environments.

As part of Coney’s legacy, two of our significant projects—1884 and Watching the House—will find a new home with Koro. This transition ensures these interactive experiences will continue to engage audiences and have impact beyond Coney’s closure, carrying forward our methodologies and approaches through Marie’s continued stewardship.

Learn more

Mod

Toby Peach, Associate Director (2020-2025) has launched Mod, a collective of Playful Activists who use game and experience design to harness the power of play to explore complex systems and catalyse social change. Mod will become home to several of our innovative school projects, including The Playful Activism Toolbox and the Undercover CareTaker Agency, which will continue in partnership with award-winning Kit Theatre – led by Coney co-founder Tom Bowtell. Heritage projects with The National Archives and Norfolk Wildlife Trust will also continue through Mod.

To learn more, connect with Toby on LinkedIn or say hello via email: info@modgames.co.uk

Learn more

Lovely Everywhere

Tassos Stevens, Coney’s co-founder and former CEO (2006–2024), is launching Lovely Everywhere—a new Community Interest Company (CIC) based in Gloucester operating locally, regionally across the South West, and everywhere remotely. Continuing a mission of loveliness and social change sparked through making play, the new venture builds on Tassos’s experience leading Coney’s interactive and playful work at the intersection of arts and social change. The work is being developed in exchange with other playmakers, academics, and communities, with a strong focus on ground-up methods that prioritise local voices. Tassos will also be working freelance.

Get in touch at theplayfuldoc@gmail.com, follow @tassosstevens, or join the Substack mailing list below.

Learn more

University of Bristol Theatre Collection

We’re delighted to have donated Coney’s digital archive to the University of Bristol Theatre Collection. The collection is not yet fully catalogued, so please contact the Theatre Collection for further information regarding its contents and access.

“Congratulations on 15 years of inspirational work. (…) What has always struck me about Coney’s work is that the ideas for many of the shows/games spread throughout the public as stories to tell and experiences to imagine, and so still communicate a way of looking at the world / theatre / play / art to people who haven’t ’seen’ them”

Alexander, Coney community member

“I’m just wondering if you know quite how much impact you’ve had in these 15 years? If you realise how many ripples of loveliness and playfulness you’ve created?”

David, Coney community member

“Thanks for twisting our brains so marvellously, giving us memories that will always stick, and helping us realise that anything and everything can be done in different and better ways.”

Rob, Coney community member

“The ending of your beautiful company does not mean the end of the spellbinding, innovative, thoughtful, caring work of everyone involved. In fact it might mean more of it, or different and surprising versions of it. We’ll miss Coney, but I know you will find new ways of being cheeky, subversive and transformative”

Ned Glasier

Resources

Explore a collection of resources related to Coney’s practice — shared for anyone to use, adapt, and spark change through play. You can find more resources within our Field Notes.

Immersive Theatre in Public Spaces

In this talk from previous Senior Producer Marie Klimis and previous Producer Emily Davis, get a deep dive into Coney’s approach to creating playful, change-driven, interactive theatre.

Explore

Romancing the Book

Coney co-founder and previous CEO Tassos Stevens and Matthew Hawn (commissioner) discuss “Evergreen,” a sprawling three-month adventure inspired by Matthew’s wife Molly’s love of children’s literature and the couple’s 20th wedding anniversary.

Explore

Creative Climate Leadership podcast

Listen to previous Associate Director Toby Peach chat to Julie’s Bicycle about how play can interact with climate action.

Listen

Seeking Immersive Funding podcast

Previous Senior Producer Marie Klimis, along with Polly Barker and Natasha Stanton, explore how organisations and individuals may approach seeking funding to create work in immersive contexts.

Listen

Playful Activism

A reflection on Coney’s Playful Activism practice, written by Toby Peach for ISTA.

Explore

Playful Activism Toolbox evaluation

Read the 2025 Playful Activism Toolbox evaluation pack to to learn all about the project and its development.

Explore

Schools Programme Evaluation Pack

Have a read of the 2025 Schools Programme evaluation pack to learn about the programme and its development.

Explore

UCA Evaluation Pack

Have a read of the 2025 UCA evaluation pack to learn about the project and its development.

Explore

The last word

Thank you for coming to learn about the legacy of this small but somehow mighty company, Coney. From the beginning we have believed – and still believe – in the power of play as an opportunity to experience the otherwise. In a world that feels increasingly closed, with so many seemingly impenetrable systems in place – we hope our work can offer a small window, a tiny door, a secret tunnel. An opportunity to notice what we might not be paying attention to, to make the kinder decision, to play differently. There’s a thread that runs through many of the pieces you’ll read about on this website, that is, that winning a game is only really satisfying when we win collectively; when we realise that our own agency is most alive, and we have the most fun, when we play with a view towards a more beautiful, nuanced, and perhaps ensemblic future. In this spirit, if you do find something here that speaks to you, we hope you share it! As Coney closes, our individual paths are winding away in many different directions. But who knows! Perhaps we’ll meet you across a table top, in a discord chat, LARPing on top of a mountain somewhere – it’s all possible.

Love and solidarity from Coney HQ.

Legacy & Resources

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