We’re excited to announce Artistic Director Cheryl Martin’s first Red Ladder production since taking the helm in January this year. Sanctuary, a compelling new musical written by Boff Whalley (We’re Not Going Back) and Sarah Woods, charts one man’s plea for help and refuge at a time when not all strangers are welcomed.

The debate around migrants, refugees and asylum seekers has become increasingly hostile and toxic in the UK, fuelled by inflammatory political rhetoric and fractious media headlines.

With Parliament having finally passed the controversial Rwanda bill allowing the Government to send some asylum seekers to Africa, desperate men, women and children still trying to cross the Channel in small boats, and a looming general election, it’s a debate that continues to rage.

All of which makes Sanctuary, which tours nationally from September, timelier than ever.

It revolves around the story of Alland, a young Iranian man who begs to be given sanctuary at a church in northern England, sparking a community to react in all the ways each member believes to be right.

Molly, a young worker there, joins forces with vicar Fiona to resist both the angry vigilantes and the hard-hearted authorities beyond the church walls to try to protect Alland.

Holding a special community service where voices on all sides sing their songs of redemption and condemnation, Fiona asks the question to everyone present: “Do we give Alland over to the State or live up to our well-versed ideals of compassion?”

The creative team have worked closely with people hoping to call the UK home, shaping Alland’s story. Writers Boff and Sarah spent the past six years collaborating on projects for Welsh National Opera, in partnership with the Oasis Centre for refugees and asylum seekers, to co-create original operas for a more diverse audience.

Director Cheryl spent eight years directing women refugees and asylum seekers in shows for Manchester’s Community Arts Northwest. This year, our friends Mafwa Theatre ran sessions with the team and students from Wakefield-based CAPA College, who then created their own workshops for secondary school pupils, supported by asylum seekers, that have helped inform the production.

This unique collaboration between Red Ladder, Theatre Royal Wakefield and CAPA College, featuring a chorus drawn from their brilliant performing arts students, mixes hard-hitting ideas with memorable melodic tunes and harmonies.

Cheryl Martin says: “Sanctuary comes at a critical moment in the conversation about immigration, refugees and asylum seekers, so it feels very timely and I’m glad that we’re doing it. I hope this musical helps open up this conversation because it’s one that goes to the heart of who we are and the kind of society we want to live in.”

Sanctuary welcomes us in and asks the question: “Do we want safety and freedom for only ourselves, or for us all?”

Come on in – the Service is about to begin…

Sanctuary will tour around the country from September 2024 in theatres and Red Ladder Local venues.