Theatres are at the heart of our communities. It can only have positive effects when places like theatres commit to showing welcome and solidarity with everyone, including those seeking sanctuary.
In 2020, Norwich Theatre became accredited with Theatre of Sanctuary status in recognition of our commitment to being a place of support, safety and hospitality for refugees and people seeking sanctuary in Norwich. It has since been re-awarded Theatre of Sanctuary status in 2023 for its ongoing work within the local community. The theatre is one of just 34 arts organisations across the UK to be awarded sanctuary status.
Speaking about the reaccreditation Ben Margolis from Norwich City of Sanctuary said: “We are delighted to continue to recognise Norwich Theatre as a Theatre(s) of Sanctuary. We are grateful to live in a city where such a powerful and influential arts organisation has a commitment to Sanctuary at its heart and at all levels of the organisation.”
Norwich Theatre uses creativity in all its forms to make refugees and asylum seekers feel included, valued and celebrated. Including programming stories on its stages about the refugee journey recently, Suffolk-based company Gecko brought their work Kin, inspired by the migration story of the Artistic Director’s Grandmother, to Norwich Theatre Royal. In May, the adaptation of the bestselling novel The Beekeeper of Aleppo headed to Norwich Theatre Royal. “It is more than just shows,” said Elspeth Hunter, Creative Engagement Project Manager. “We want to embed the work we do throughout our creative programme with activities for those seeking those seeking sanctuary to get involved with and feel that Norwich Theatre is a home for them – a space to enjoy a range of creative experiences..”
Today, take part activities include Theatre Makers: Migration Matters, a free of charge workshop for migrants and refugees to share and celebrate global theatre traditions and cultures. The Harmony Collective is a community choir for members to unite, have fun and celebrate the artistry of music and voices from around the world. The Living as an Artist Programme celebrates artists’ lives through workshops, information resources, and peer-support groups. As well as these programmes, Norwich Theatre will be distributing free tickets to young people and adults who are part of specific community organisations through its Encore Community Ticketing Scheme. “It is all about welcome and using creativity for wellbeing,” commented Elspeth. “We know that the asylum system at the moment is particularly difficult, and in a world where you may feel adrift from society having somewhere you can go be welcomed and be yourself can be a lifeline.”
This month is the 25th anniversary of Refugee Week (19 – 25 Jun), a UK-wide festival celebrating refugees’ contributions, creativity, resilience and people seeking sanctuary. The week aims to help people from different backgrounds connect beyond labels and encourage understanding around why people are displaced and their challenges when seeking safety. During this week, Norwich Theatre will be using creativity to offer an alternative perspective on refugees that are often only seen through the eyes of the media or politicians. “This year Refugee Week’s theme is Compassion. Theatres can play a powerful role in enabling compassion across our communities by sharing stories and allowing people to walk in someone’s shoes,” said Elspeth.
Norwich Theatre’s Refugee Week events include a free film screening of The Suitcase, an innovative student-led art project – the brainchild of Anastasiia Petrenko (UEA) – which explores the concepts of loss and belonging through the eyes of sanctuary seekers from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria, Türkiye and Egypt. The Harmony Collective will celebrate the power of global music and voices at events across the city, including Make Music Day at The Forum. The Theatre will also be holding a coffee morning for its staff, volunteers, corporate partners and funders, with opportunities to learn more about what it means to seek sanctuary and chat with representatives from Norwich City of Sanctuary and New Routes.
“The Theatre of Sanctuary status impacts everything we do. We hope our spaces and activities help people come together and form a community that shares global traditions and stories that enrich our stages,” added Elspeth.