Skip to content
read

NEWS: Theatre of Sanctuary status renewed for a further 3 years

12 February 2025

Nottingham Playhouse has had its Theatre of Sanctuary status renewed for a further three years, re-affirming its commitment to supporting refugees and asylum seekers in the local community.

Awarded by City of Sanctuary UK, Theatre of Sanctuary status means there is a provable commitment for now and into the future, to be a welcoming, safe and enjoyable space for refugees and asylum seekers.

City of Sanctuary UK co-ordinates, supports and grows local networks of welcome, from community groups to schools, libraries and theatres. They encourage inclusivity, solidarity and compassion for people from a forced displacement background.

Since receiving the initial award in 2022, Nottingham Playhouse has set up several initiatives with the aim of creating a welcoming sense of community for people. One has been the Conversation Café, a weekly opportunity for refugees and asylum seekers to meet up, have a cup of tea and chat together, and improve their conversational English with basic English language lessons. From this, friendships have developed, opportunities for collaboration have been found and a sense of belonging in the community has been developed.

Working with Refugee Roots, a local Nottingham charity supporting asylum seekers and refugees, Nottingham Playhouse has also hosted digital exhibitions and performances during Refugee Week.

Over the next three years, Nottingham Playhouse is committed to further embedding the principles of Theatre of Sanctuary across the whole organisation by expanding networks and partnerships, and finding opportunities for lived experience to influence thinking and planning.

Tara Lopez, Director of Participation, commented:

“We are thrilled to once again be recognised for our commitment to supporting refugee and asylum seeker communities through our participatory and audience development initiatives. We are proud of the work done to date to ensure these communities feel welcome in our theatre, but this renewed status also highlights our desire to keep improving our offer and to ensure that everyone sees themselves represented and reflected within our building and on our stages.”

Janet Burd, City of Sanctuary UK Nottingham, said:

We are thrilled to announce that Nottingham Playhouse has successfully renewed their Theatre of Sanctuary award, reaffirming their commitment to welcome for another three years. The reaccreditation recognises Nottingham Playhouse’s sustained and deepening dedication to creating an inclusive space for people seeking sanctuary.

“Over the years, they have consistently demonstrated excellence in making theatre accessible and meaningful to refugee and asylum seeker communities. Their ongoing commitment to amplifying refugee voices, sharing diverse stories, and fostering cultural exchange continues to set a sterling example of what it means to be a Theatre of Sanctuary. We look forward to seeing how they build upon this foundation and further strengthen their vital work with people seeking sanctuary in the years ahead.”

Nottingham Playhouse is also a part of the Art of Belonging steering group, a coalition of leading arts organisations in the city, who have been championing refugee and asylum seekers access to and ownership of the Nottingham cultural landscape.

Sign up to our newsletter for all the latest shows and news

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
COOKIES The Nottingham Playhouse website uses cookies to help give you the best experience on our site, analyse our website traffic and for advertising purposes. By continuing to use the site you agree to our use of cookies. Read more here