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Beginner Read · Typical · Updated: Oct 2025

Digital Culture Podcast Episode #12 – Socially impactful digital storytelling with Chris Sonnex from Cardboard Citizens

Pink graphic featuring the Digital Culture Podcast, Digital Culture Network and Digital Culture Awards logos. Headshots of Chris Sonnex and James Akers also feature. Header text reads: Episode 12: Chris Sonnex from Cardboard Citizens

The Digital Culture Podcast is for creative and cultural professionals to get to know the Digital Culture Network team, learn how we can help your digital skills development, and find out what’s happening across the sector.

In this episode, James Akers interviews Chris Sonnex – Artistic Director & Joint CEO of Cardboard Citizens – about their award-winning project ‘More Than One Story’. The project – a series of 9 short films written and produced by and for people with lived experience of homelessness, poverty, and inequity – was the theatre company’s first experience of creating digital theatre.

Chris explains their collaborative approach to the work, why they chose the medium of film to tell these stories, and how that decision, along with choosing relevant partners like the Big Issue, saw them reach an audience of 157,000.

They discuss:

  • How digital storytelling techniques can be used to create meaningful content that resonates and drives social change.
  • The important role partnerships and working collaboratively can play in driving engagement online and in-person.
  • What’s next for the project

This episode includes discussion of homelessness, poverty, and domestic violence in a general context. While no specific personal experiences are described, some listeners may find these themes sensitive.

Cardboard Citizens were the Digital Content category winners in the 2025 Digital Culture Awards. The winner of this category was decided by a panel of experts, led by Megan Jones – Digital Content Manager, National Museums Scotland.

Music by ⁠⁠SHAR

Further support

The Digital Culture Network is here to support you and your organisation. Our Tech Champions can provide free one-to-one support to all creative and cultural organisations who are in receipt of, or eligible for, Arts Council England funding. If you need help or would like to chat with us about any of the advice we have covered above, please get in touch.

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