Red Ladder Theatre Company in collaboration with Theatre Royal Wakefield & supported by CAPA College
Traditionally, churches across the world have offered sanctuary to those seeking safety from persecution. But how do we react when that ideal becomes a reality?
When Alland, a young Iranian man, begs to be given sanctuary at St Mary’s church in a northern town, it sparks 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?
Sanctuary is a brand-new musical that welcomes us in and asks the question: do we want safety and freedom for only ourselves, or for us all? A vital story of one man’s hopes for help and support in a time when not all strangers are welcomed.
With a chorus drawn from students at Wakefield’s CAPA College, Boff Whalley (‘We’re Not Going Back’) and Sarah Woods’ musical mixes hard-hitting ideas with memorable melodic tunes and harmonies.
Come on in – the Service is about to begin…
Kindly supported by the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s Safer Communities Fund.
All performances will be captioned via The Difference Engine, a tool that enables d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing people to read performance captions on their phone.
Age guidance 12+
Warning: violence & violent, aggressive, threatening behaviour. Derogatory language about immigrants and some ethnic minorities.
#Sanctuary
Post-show Q&As with director Cheryl Martin and local groups supporting asylum seekers at Theatre Royal Wakefield 20th September, St. Mary’s Parish Church 28th September and Lawrence Batley Theatre 23rd October.
Venues wheelchair accessible – when booking, please let us know about any access needs.
For Red Ladder Local venues: Rockwell Centre – Bradford, St. Mary’s Parish Church, St. John’s Parish Church and The Cluntergate Centre, tickets £5 but if you require a subsidised space, please email info@redladder.co.uk as we’d love you to attend.
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‘This organisation is funded by Leeds City Council through the Leeds Cultural Investment Programme.’
Dates
Show Credits
Book, music and lyrics by Sarah Woods and Boff Whalley
Directed by Cheryl Martin
Aein Nasseri as Alland
Emily Chattle as Fiona
Ingrid Bolton-Gabrielsen as Molly
Ravneet Sehra as Uzma
Richard Kay as Peter