Sanctuary, from radical theatre company Red Ladder, is a new musical telling the story of a young Iranian man, Alland, who begs for sanctuary at a church in northern England – sparking the community to react in various ways – not all of them good.
Written by Boff Whalley (We’re Not Going Back) and award-winning playwright Sarah Woods, the show is artistic director Cheryl Martin’s first Red Ladder production since taking charge of the company in January.
The show opens at Theatre Royal Wakefield on September 19, before an eight-week tour to theatres and community venues across the country that includes Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough (September 30), Hull Truck Theatre (October 8), The Dukes Lancaster (October 9), Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield (October 23-24), Unity Theatre, Liverpool (October 25) and Leeds Playhouse (November 5-6)
The writers have spent the past six years collaborating on projects for Welsh National Opera, with the Oasis Centre for refugees and asylum seekers, to 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 unique collaboration between Red Ladder, Theatre Royal Wakefield and the Wakefield-based CAPA College (featuring a chorus drawn from the latter's performing arts students), mixes hard-hitting ideas with melodic tunes.
Cheryl Martin said: “Sanctuary comes at a critical moment in the conversation about immigration. I hope this musical helps to open up this conversation, because it goes to the heart of who we are and the kind of society we want.”
The show's co-writer, Sarah Woods said: “There is a lot of hostility in the media when it comes to immigration and we want to offer audiences different viewpoints.
"A lot of people who come to the UK seeking asylum are here because they've stood up against oppression, doing things that many of us might not have the strength to do. We can learn a lot from them and the stories they share.”
Her co-writer, Boff Whalley, added: “We’re a nation in turmoil over immigration; a country at war with itself over small boats – while at the heart of it all are desperate people fleeing war and imprisonment, searching for a place to call home.
"The idea is to make this big subject entertaining as well as poignant and educational – it’s my job with the music to use melody and harmony to draw people in, to create shared moments, to give the audience a helping hand into this story of a young asylum-seeker looking for sanctuary.
Full tour dates, info and tickets here