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Other Resources and Activities

ASKLiON Listing Page

We have developed a webpage in collaboration with ASKLiON that signposts to resources for refugees and people seeking asylum and includes a directory of accessible events in the city. This page features on the ASKLiON homepage and Nottingham Playhouse will collect event information from city-wide organisations to upload to the page. If you’re a sanctuary seeker looking for services or events in Nottingham, click the button below.

If you have events that you would like to be included on this webpage, please email isabellea@nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk

Free Tickets

Through our 50:50 campaign, tickets are donated to charities and community groups – meaning that people who otherwise would not have the means to come to the theatre are able to. In the last 2 years, we have donated over 500 tickets to groups of refugees and people seeking asylum; including The British Red Cross, Nottingham Refugee Forum, The BACA Project, Refugee Futures, Woman’s Culture Exchange, Mojatu and Language Café. To find out more please email isabellea@nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk 

If you’d like to donate to our 50:50 fund and give someone the gift of theatre, click here. A donation of just £10 will fund one person’s ticket.

NEST Shine

Shine is our flagship outreach programme, offering high quality drama workshops to young people across Nottinghamshire completely free of charge. We run weekly Shine workshops with NEST (Nottingham Education Sanctuary Team), a full-time educational provision for asylum seeker and refugee young people, aged 15-19 years. These sessions, led by our Participation Project Producer Natalia Bruce, feature drama games and opportunities to devise theatre, which will help to grow confidence and dramatic skills.

City of Sanctuary Steering Group

Members of our Participation and Marketing teams sit on the Nottingham City of Sanctuary Steering Group and we regularly host this group’s meetings in spaces at the Playhouse.

Allocated Bursary Places for Sanctuary Seekers

In 2022, we reserved 3 places in our Work Experience programme 2022 for young sanctuary seekers to take part. These participants gained valuable experience in theatre to improve their CV and knowledge of the industry.

We also worked with Care4Calais to secure 12 bursary places for sanctuary seekers with their organisation to join us in workshops during our 2022 May half term Family Fest.

Statement from Chief Executive, Stephanie Sirr

“Nottingham Playhouse exists to welcome everybody. It is interested in hearing everyone’s story. People who come here have a right to refuge – a genuinely safe space to share stories and conversation. We keep that possible through removing whatever barriers we can.”

Statement from Head of Participation, Martin Berry

“This award is recognition of a deeply embedded desire to build bridges, tell stories and to connect with those who have come to this country to feel safe.  It is just the beginning and we will continue working to ensure everyone feels they can call the Playhouse home.”

Jane Burd, Coordinator of the Nottingham City of Sanctuary

“Nottingham City of Sanctuary is delighted that the Nottingham Playhouse has been given their Theatre of Sanctuary award and would like to congratulate the team at the Playhouse for the work they have put into this recognition.  It reflects the tremendous work the Theatre has done over many years to encourage participation and accessibility to people seeking sanctuary in Nottingham.  Their programmes consistently encourage a welcoming environment for everyone, especially refugee and asylum seeker communities.  We particularly look forward to their ongoing work to share stories and culture from people with lived experience and to cultivate a wider engagement in the arts in Nottingham.”