Refugee Week in Oldham

SBC are delighted to have been invited to curate this year’s events as part of Refugee Week (17th 23rd June) for Oldham Coliseum Theatre, which will happen at the town's pop-up Roundabout theatre. 

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Here’s what Rosie MacPherson (Artistic Director and Joint CEO, Stand and Be Counted), had to say about the programme:

Stand and Be Counted Theatre is thrilled to curate this year’s Refugee Week for Coliseum at the Roundabout. There’s plenty to enjoy right across the week from a range of brilliant local, national, and international artists and community groups. The theme for Refugee Week this year is ‘Our Home’ and we know we’ve got just the thing to make you feel right at home in the big round tent. 

Refugee Week is such a vital and exciting aspect of the creative calendar, bringing communities from all over the world together to make connections, share cultures and raise our collective voices. We have an incredible programme this year featuring shows from our fellow Theatre Companies of Sanctuary such as award-winning ‘Penguin’ led by Hamzeh Al Hussien, PSYCHEDelight’s hilarious ‘Mohand and Peter’, a brand new performance ‘Rising from Ashes’ from the British Red Cross’s brilliant drama club, Full Circle will host another wonderful get together, we have an electric evening of poetry with ‘Elmi and Friends’ and a much-needed party with Ghetto Fabulous’ Family Catwalk. There really is something for everyone!

As well as celebrating the brilliant creatives making work in the UK we also want to highlight the crucial charities and services supporting people seeking sanctuary in Oldham; Oldham Library offers a range of English and CV development classes as well as drop-in support services, Red Cross provide a range of practical, local and emotional support services including their drama club. Action Together, Boaz Trust, Chadderton Community Church, Oldham Unity, Refugee Action, UK Education and Faith Foundation, and Support and Action for Women’s Network all offer vital services in our town. If you would like to donate, volunteer or take part please do reach out.

Throughout Refugee Week, we will also be hosting Sanctuary at Spindles – a creative hub and exhibition of some of our recent digital and visual artworks as well as some brilliant work from fellow local artists – at Spindles Shopping Centre in Oldham. Our pop-up gallery will be ready to welcome you throughout Refugee Week so please do come and say hello!

Find out more about the programme and book tickets here.

All events are free for people seeking sanctuary. We look forward to celebrating this important and inspiring week with you! Be sure to follow our social media channels for a

Refugee Week take over from the 17th - 23rd June.

About Stand and Be Counted Theatre:
Based in Oldham, SBC was founded in 2010 and we are proud to be the UK’s first Theatre Company of Sanctuary. We make live and digital theatre with and for people seeking sanctuary (refugees, asylum seekers, new migrants) of all ages. We deliver workshops, tour shows, co-create music videos and video games, publish and exhibit artworks and host parties. Our mission is to open the doors to the creative industries for artists from all over the world at any stage of their careers.

More about Refugee Week:
Refugee Week takes place across the UK, in June each year, and is the world’s largest arts and culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity, and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. Established in 1998 in the UK, this annual festival aligns with World Refugee Day, celebrated globally on June 20th.