Purpose: This paper explores the role that participatory budgeting (PB) plays in enhancing emotional and social well-being through the commissioning, design, delivery of and participation in a drama and theatre intervention in a deprived community in North London. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative case study methodology employing constructivist grounded theory was used to explore how PB promoted health and well-being among residents of a deprived North London neighbourhood. Findings: Engaging in PB enabled residents to influence the commissioning, design and implementation of community-based interventions that responded directly to their perceived needs through culturally aspirational projects. The resulting theatre production promoted self-esteem, love and a positive sense of agency in residents. Analysis revealed themes of self-expression, praxis, self-realisation, sense of belonging and building of positive relationships between participants, characterised by trust and reciprocity. Originality/value: The study points to the power of using PB to enable residents in very deprived neighbourhoods to decide on funding and influence the design and delivery of interventions to directly meet their needs. It also demonstrates the significance of culturally aspirational arts-based approaches in engaging deprived community members around health issues in promoting emotional and social well-being and a positive sense of individual and community belonging. The research also demonstrates the usefulness of PB as a co-production tool to enable residents to take control of and transform their lives as part of a wider community development approach in deprived urban communities.