History

Docbloc was founded in 2021 as a public-facing extension of Dr. Ash Marinaccio’s doctoral research in applied theatre at the CUNY Graduate Center. Rooted in Ash’s work as a documentarian, storyteller, artist, activist, and educator, Docbloc emerged from a desire to unite theatre makers, journalists, photographers, filmmakers, and other nonfiction creators in collaborative explorations of the critical issues shaping contemporary life. From the outset, Docbloc has been dedicated to expanding the possibilities of nonfiction performance and using documentary storytelling as a form of resistance, collective memory, and community transformation.

Docbloc’s mission and methodology draw inspiration from traditions of political theatre, community-based storytelling, and documentary journalism. The organization was built on Ash’s long-held belief that scholarship and practice should inform one another, and that theatre has a unique capacity to illuminate lived experience while challenging dominant narratives. After completing her PhD, Ash continued developing Docbloc into a cultural organization centered on long-form documentary theatre and public-facing nonfiction artmaking. The organization currently aims to achieve 501(c)(3) status by the end of 2025.

Since its inception, Docbloc has grown through partnerships with universities, arts institutions, community centers, and activist networks. These collaborations have included public programming, documentary theatre development, applied theatre workshops, and multidisciplinary storytelling projects with partners such as The Eagle Project (NY), ASHTAR Theatre (Palestine), The Civilians, Radical Evolution, Donkeysaddle Projects (Seattle), Rattlestick Theatre, The People’s Forum, HB Studios, The Tank, and the Art of Brooklyn Film Festival.

Docbloc has developed projects with Pace University, Queens College, Hunter College, Purchase College, Emory University, HowlRound Theatre Commons at Emerson College, and the Carter Burden Older Adult Luncheon Program.

Docbloc has been recognized through competitive residencies, including The Civilians R&D Group, Social Practice CUNY, The Bechdel Project, and The Tank, which have supported the development of new documentary theatre works and expanded the organization’s artistic network. Today, Docbloc continues to evolve as a multidisciplinary hub for nonfiction performance, creating artist-centered, community-engaged projects that honor lived experience and imagine more just futures through collective storytelling.