11 New Projects for our Eleventh Anniversary
Stand & Be Counted Theatre, the UK’s first Theatre Company of Sanctuary, today announces 11 new projects to mark their eleventh anniversary. These include new participatory theatre, music, young people’s programmes, film, and interactive projects films in an ambitious new creative programme, all co-created with people seeking sanctuary.
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Highlights of the announcement include performance parties in Sheffield and Coventry, a new children’s company, and Creative Committee for Leeds 2023 all led by people seeking sanctuary across the UK.
The celebrations begin with the company working as partners on Coventry Embraces, presented as part of Coventry City of Culture 2021 and Sheffield Welcomes, led by Sheffield Theatres, as part of Good Chance’s international project, The Walk. Coventry Embraces is a celebratory performance parade through Coventry city centre led by our newly formed International Ensemble of people seeking sanctuary. Sheffield Welcomes is a welcome party at Victoria Quays, made with 40 Syrian and Afghan families who are new to the city. Both projects are led by the company’s Artistic Director, Rosie MacPherson – with Theo Ioannou and Firas Chihi as assistant directors. Sheffield Welcomes will also feature the Banner of Welcome – a 3.5m horizontal banner for the same event, made as a gift for Little Amal by Yemeni designer Maha Alomari, SBC’s Creative Associate and commissioned by Off the Shelf Festival.
Khaled Aljawad – another of SBC’s Creative Associates, who featured in the company’s critically acclaimed interactive game Have Your Passport Ready, will present his first short film, reflecting on his journey from Syria to the UK – supported by SBC and commissioned by ARC Stockton as part of their What’s on Your, Mind? series. The film will be released on Tuesday 26 October.
Sanctuary Sounds is a creative programme and celebratory concert on Saturday 13 November, made with Theatre in the Mill to mark their 45th anniversary. Led by Associate Director, Hannah Butterfield with Creative Associates Emily Ntshangase, Zoe Katsilerou and Kadence Music, the concert will bring together international students, professional musicians, and community groups from across Bradford.
Winter Acts of Wonder is a week-long theatre-making programme for children on free school meals in Sheffield. The group will explore the magic of theatre becoming performers, producers, creatives, and crew, presenting their new show on The Montgomery stage on Thursday 23 December.
My World My City My Neighbourhood is a collaboration with community members in Hunslet which will form a Creative Committee charged with changing and developing things in their locality through performance and public speaking. Creative Connections with Pilot Theatre is a new programme for sanctuary seekers in York to explore innovative approaches to creativity and wellbeing, funded by York City Council.
Soap Box: Coventry is a new programme of performance making and cultural events for the newly established International Ensemble, buoyed by the success of their first performance in Can You Hear Me, Now? The company will support local sanctuary seekers to make genuine routes into the arts industry and shape their own careers, funded by Coventry City Council.
The company has made a series of five new films as part of the Refugee Council’s Health Access programme with Bradford filmmaker Pishdaad Modaressi. Experts by Experience is a series of films and an open, free, and accessible practical resource for sectors supporting or working with people seeking sanctuary.
Rosie MacPherson, Artistic Director, says, ‘We’re excited to share our new season of work. We hope there’s something for everyone – to see and enjoy, to participate with us, and to support our vision for a culture of welcome. We’re grateful to our partners, to our audiences and mostly to all the amazing participants we get to work with day in, day out. Through the most challenging of times, they continue to inspire us, to challenge us and to make us do more. This programme of work is a culmination of many ideas that are made to empower, champion, and celebrate people who ask for nothing but safety and bring so much to the communities they are part of. As new friends join us from Afghanistan and beyond it is vital that opportunities to make joyful connections, speak freely and take charge of the narrative are readily available. Despite the difficult circumstances independent artists and companies face, we want to be as loud and clear as possible - you are always welcome here.’
The company also announces funding support from Victoria Wood Foundation to develop the UK’s first Youth Theatre of Sanctuary with groups across Yorkshire and in areas the company is working. Young sanctuary seekers will explore exciting new technologies and approaches to making live and digital work.
Event Listings
What’s on Your Mind?
ARC Stockton, online / Tuesday 26 October 2021 / https://arconline.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-your-mind/
Coventry Embraces
(The Walk – Coventry) / Wednesday 27 October 2021, https://coventry2021.co.uk/what-s-on/the-walk-coventry-embraces/
Sheffield Welcomes
(The Walk – Sheffield) / Friday 29 October 2021 / https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/the-walk-sheffield-welcomes-little-amal-1
Sanctuary Sounds
University of Bradford / Saturday 13 November 2021
Winter Acts of Wonder
The Montgomery, Sheffield / Thursday 23 December 2021
Twitter/Instagram/facebook: @SBC_TheatreWebsite: www.sbctheatre.co.ukemail: info@sbctheatre.co.uk 