“You’re Gonna Suck for a While—That’s the Point”: WV Collective on Risk, Growth, and Theater in Southern West Virginia

In Beckley, WV, a scrappy, passionate theater group called WV Collective is redefining what it means to take creative risks in Appalachia. We sat down with founders and artists Adam Taylor, Jamie Smith, and Olivia Merritt to talk about failure, growth, and why they keep showing up for southern West Virginia’s creative community—even when it gets uncomfortable.