{"id":970,"date":"2025-05-28T12:24:23","date_gmt":"2025-05-28T11:24:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jusmedia.co.uk\/heritagemag\/?p=970"},"modified":"2025-06-04T15:30:28","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T14:30:28","slug":"the-theatre-company-providing-sanctuary-for-new-migrants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jusmedia.co.uk\/heritagemag\/2025\/05\/28\/the-theatre-company-providing-sanctuary-for-new-migrants\/","title":{"rendered":"The Theatre Company providing sanctuary for new migrants"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The UK\u2019s first and leading Theatre Company of Sanctuary, Stand and Be Counted from Sheffield, is helping people such as refugees, asylum seekers and new migrants have a safe space where they can be creative whilst creating positive social change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The SBC’s Theatre Company describes itself as proudly sitting at “the intersection of arts, culture & social activism.\u201d They use art and theatre as a form of creating social justice. With an activist mindset at the heart of everything they do, they encourage others to create equal opportunity for everyone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Theatre company, which was founded in 2010, hosts the Youth group every Saturday evening. They share a meal and encourage sanctuary seekers to come along, create a performance, make new friends and practice English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alison Abankwa, one of the facilitators at SBC, said: \u201cHere at SBC and also at Montgomery, it’s all about empowering young people, giving them a space to find their creative flow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The SBC\u2019s Youth Theatre of Sanctuary had an event at The Montgomery a few months ago where they displayed their creations. This involved the children working with Alex Bennett, who is a paper engineer and illustrator based in Yorkshire, to create a storyline and illustrated pop-up book. The Montgomery is also the UK’s first Theatre of Sanctuary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Bennett said: \u201cI think we ended up with something that reflects all of the children\u2019s input but also that reflects SBC\u2019s values and The Montgomery’s values, and that it’s a welcoming space for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Alison Abankwa , Alex Bennett and Nadia Emam<\/strong> Images by Smart Banda<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Watch more on our YouTube here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more culture stories here. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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