OUR HISTORYHow we began
SBC's Youth Theatre of Sanctuary performs at Together in the City Festival
Live & Digital Works to instigate social change.
Stand & Be Counted was founded in 2010 with a passion for platforming the voices we need more of. Our work is adventurous and highly political, merging lived experience with new ideas. We have always believed that theatre is a vital tool in the pursuit of positive social change and justice. Art is activism and by changing hearts and minds we will change policy.
2022
Secret Summer - commissioned by The Space and Theatre in the Mill, supported by The Montgomery Theatre
Together - commissioned by Sheffield Theatres, supported by The Montgomery Theatre
Youth Theatre of Sanctuary - programme continues in partnership with The Montgomery Theatre
Soap Box Leeds - programme & interactive exhibition commissioned by Leeds 2023
Soap Box York - programme commissioned by Pilot Theatre
Soap Box Coventry - programme continues funded by Coventry City Council
Soap Box Sheffield & Barnsley - programme and performance at Festival of the Mind commissioned by University of Sheffield
The Welcome Series - funded by Coventry City Council
Soap Box Sheffield & Barnsley - programmes commissioned by The University of Sheffield
ANAN TELLO JOINS AS ASSOCIATE
How A City Can Save The World - short films commissioned by Sheffield Theatres
SBC becomes a charity!
2021
Can You Hear Me, Now? - commissioned by Coventry City of Culture Trust, in partnership with The Belgrade Theatre and Coventry Refugee Migrant Centre
Hidden Winter - co-production with The Herd, commissioned by Bradford Producing Hub and supported by The Victoria Wood Foundation
LAUNCH: The UK’s first Youth Theatre of Sanctuary - supported by Sheffield Theatres and The Victoria Wood Foundation
Words of Welcome - programme and publication commissioned by ArtReach and Manchester City of Sanctuary
Sheffield Embraces - commissioned by Sheffield Theatres, supported by The Victoria Wood Foundation
Coventry Welcomes - commissioned by Coventry City of Culture Trust
Windows of the World - Exhibition by Maha Al-Omari commissioned by Bradford 2025
Creative Activism & Leadership - programme in partnership with Coventry City of Culture Trust
Creative Skills for Wellbeing - programme in partnership with World Jewish Relief
Soap Box Coventry - programme funded by Coventry City Council
Sanctuary Sounds - Commissioned by Theatre in the Mill
No Media Spin: How SBC helps Refugees and Asylum Seekers tell their stories - Feature, The Stage
SMART BANDA JOINS AS DIGITAL DIRECTOR
MAHA AL-OMARI JOINS AS ASSOCIATE
The Bone Sparrow - Associate Company of Pilot Theatre’s touring production
Family Fun Days - summer and winter holiday programme commissioned by The Montgomery Theatre
Sheffield Hallam University - Guest Artist
2020
CREATIVE RESIDENCY - Berlin & Reichenow, Germany
RESIDENT COMPANY - Theatre in the Mill, Bradford
WHERE WE ARE - Creative Documentary commissioned by Journeys Festival International, Camden People’s Theatre, Cast and Theatre in the Mill
FIRAS CHIHI JOINS AS COMMUNITY DIRECTOR
SANCTUARY BROADCAST COMMISSION- artworks by archipelago collective, Gaël Le Cornec, Maha Alomari, Majid Adin, Tricia Arthur-Stubbs, Ed Grimoldby & Katy Weir
POSTA AEREA - THE PLACE I CALL HOME festival - Paines Plough & Elsinor Theatre, Milan
HAVE YOUR PASSPORT READY - supported by Knaïve Theatre
KHALED ALJAWAD & JOINS AS ASSOCIATE
WHERE WE BEGAN + LIVE Q&A - Migration Matters Festival Online & Coventry Welcomes (Online)
HERE I AM - in partnership with Northern Broadsides & Artworks (online)
SBC PERFORMANCE TALK & WORKSHOP - Coventry Welcomes (Online) and Bradford Producing Hub’s Show + Tell (online)
USE YOUR VOICE - Creative skills for public speaking and activism in partnership with Refugee Council
CREATIVE SKILLS FOR EMPLOYMENT - Coventry, Asylum Migration Integration Fund (European Commission)
SBC COMMUNITY PERFORMANCE ENSEMBLE - Sheffield
CREATIVE SKILLS FOR EMPLOYMENT (online) - Bradford, Wakefield and Bristol , Asylum Migration Integration Fund (European Commission)
2019
CREATIVE SKILLS FOR EMPLOYMENT - Sheffield, Asylum Migration Integration Fund (European Commission)
CREATIVE SKILLS FOR EMPLOYMENT - Leeds, Asylum Migration Integration Fund (European Commission)
ZOE KATSILEROU JOINS AS ASSOCIATE
WELCOME CONSORTIUM - formed alongside fellow Theatre Company’s of Sanctuary
APPLIED THEATRE IN PRACTISING INTEGRATED APPROACHES - European ERASMUS + project, Romania
ORGANISATION DEVELOPMENT (ACE, Theatre in the Mill, Cast, East Street Arts)
2018
WHERE WE BEGAN - Sold out National Tour (ACE)
THE VISITOR - Journeys International Festival, commissioned by ArtReach
CREATIVE SKILLS FOR EMPLOYMENT (Pilot programme) - Sheffield & Leeds, commissioned by World Jewish Relief
THE JOURNEYS - caravan showcase, Brighton Festival in collaboration with Third Angel
MANIFESTO MOVE! - Latitude Festival, commissioned by Leeds Beckett University
TAFADZWA MUCHENJE JOINS AS ASSOCIATE
NEW INTERNATIONALISTS - Farnham Maltings seed investment & development
SBC PRESENT AT IETM, Munich
WHERE WE BEGAN - R&D (ACE)
2017.
‘TANJA’ - Sold out National Tour (ACE)
THE JOURNEYS - in collaboration with Third Angel, commissioned by Migration Matters Festival
STAND & BE COUNTED - commissioned by Leeds Beckett University for Latitude Festival
WHERE WE BEGAN - R&D in collaboration with Tafadzwa Muchenje, Zoe Katsilerou, Gael Le Cornec, Shireen Farkhoy
WINNERS of ARC, Stockton’s ‘Bridging The Gap’
THE NEST recommissioned
SBC present at GIFT Festival
‘TANJA’ - Migration Matters Festival (Headline)
‘TANJA’ - Pulse Festival
2016.
‘TANJA’ - R&D in collaboration with Emily Ntshangase-Wood
NAMED UK’S FIRST THEATRE COMPANY OF SANCTUARY
HANNAH BUTTERFIELD JOINS COMPANY AS ASSOCIATE
‘TANJA’ - Sold out National Tour (ACE)
ASSOCIATE COMPANY - Cast, Doncaster
2015.
‘TANJA’ - Houses of Parliament in partnership with City of Sanctuary
INSIDE - National Tour (ACE)
‘TANJA’ - R&D in collaboration with Hannah Butterfield (ACE)
THE NEST - commissioned by NIHR, directed by Peter Bradley
‘TANJA’ - Migration Matters Festival, Scratch performance
‘TANJA’ - Houses of Parliament in partnership with City of Sanctuary
2014.
INSIDE - Canterbury Festival
CENTURY - Sheffield Theatres, directed by Poppy Rowley
‘TANJA’ - R&D
2013.
INSIDE - Preview at Theatre503 & The Lowry
INSIDE - Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh Fringe Festival
2012/2011.
ELASTIC BRIDGE - Tabard Theatre, London
ELASTIC BRIDGE - North West Tour
INSIDE - R&D
ELASTIC BRIDGE - North West Tour
2010.
FOUNDED BY ROSIE MACPHERSON & JOHN TOMLINSON
DEBUT ELASTIC BRIDGE at Salford Lads Club