WHat’s on
SOAP BOX - BRADFORD
🌟 Are you looking to practice English in a relaxed, creative space, make new friends, and boost your confidence? Then we want to hear from you! 🎉
Soap Box Bradford is a creative learning programme for people seeking sanctuary. It’s a welcoming space for people from around the world to explore their creativity and showcase their talents. 🌍✨ This season, we’re working with partners across lots of Bradford 2025 projects.
We’ll cover your travel expenses and provide a hot meal to keep you fuelled. 🍲 If you need any additional support, just let our friendly team know, and we’ll take care of it.
Come join us for a fun, inspiring experience — we can’t wait to meet you! 🎨✏️
To sign up, email us on zoe@sbctheatre.co.uk
Youth Theatre of Sanctuary - SHEFFIELD
Our Youth Theatre of Sanctuary, for young people ages 5-15 and their families. Supported by Sheffield Theatres.
SOAP BOX - SHEFFIELD
🌟 Are you looking to practice English in a relaxed, creative space, make new friends, and boost your confidence? Then we want to hear from you! 🎉
Soap Box Collective is our adult creative learning programme for people seeking sanctuary, aged 16+. It’s a welcoming space for people from around the world to explore their creativity and showcase their talents. 🌍✨ This season, we’re working towards an exciting fashion show!
We’ll cover your travel expenses and provide a hot meal to keep you fueled. 🍲 If you need any additional support, just let our friendly team know, and we’ll take care of it.
Come join us for a fun, inspiring experience — we can’t wait to meet you! 🎨✏️
To sign up, email us on info@sbctheatre.co.uk
SOAP BOX - OLDHAM
🌟 Are you looking to practice English in a relaxed, creative space, make new friends, and boost your confidence? Then we want to hear from you! 🎉
Soap Box Oldham is our adult creative learning programme for people seeking sanctuary, aged 16+. It’s a welcoming space for people from around the world to explore their creativity and showcase their talents. 🌍✨ This season, we’re working on a creative football project!
We’ll cover your travel expenses and provide a hot meal to keep you fuelled. 🍲 If you need any additional support, just let our friendly team know, and we’ll take care of it.
Come join us for a fun, inspiring experience — we can’t wait to meet you! 🎨✏️
To sign up, email us on info@sbctheatre.co.uk
Boyond Borders Voices for Change
Join Stand & Be Counted Theatre, City of Sanctuary, and Sheffield Hallam’s Creative Industries Institute & Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice for an important collaborative event exploring life within the UK’s hostile asylum system — and the actions we can take as a society to become more welcoming, supportive, and inclusive towards people seeking safety.
The event will feature:
‘Have Your Passport Ready’ — a powerful virtual experience presented by Stand & Be Counted Theatre
A live performance by the Advocacy and System Change Volunteers Team from City of Sanctuary
A screening of short documentaries created by Sheffield Hallam University staff and students
An opportunity for Q&A and informal networking over food
What to Expect
Have Your Passport Ready – Stand & Be Counted Theatre
An interactive, virtual experience that puts audiences directly in the world of the UK's hostile environment. Led by brothers Khaled and Mohammad Aljawad from Syria, now based in Sheffield, Have Your Passport Ready explores an unknown city without an interpreter as audiences become players collecting evidence to prove their right to remain in the UK.
Created by the Stand & Be Counted; the UK's first Theatre Company of Sanctuary, this short film-meets-video game was commissioned by Knaïve Theatre to launch the inaugural season of Knaïve Theatre presents: A Digital Lyceum.
Advocacy and System Change Volunteers Team - City of Sanctuary
The Advocacy and System Change Volunteers Team at City of Sanctuary works towards systemic change in the asylum and refuge system in the UK, recognising that everything people seeking sanctuary experience is shaped by the systems we work within. They carry out this work in solidarity with people seeking sanctuary, ensuring that their leadership capacity is developed and their voices are heard.
Sheffield Hallam University - Film Beyond Borders
For the Summer School 2024 group of new filmmakers undertook training from RAAH and SHU in documentary approaches, FX6 cameras, sound recording and editing on Premiere Pro.
Creatives from a range of Sheffield organisations including City of Sanctuary, U-Mix and One World Choir took part and selected film ideas that were developed into longer work through Autumn 2024. As part of this event we will have an opportunity to watch:
• Hafiz’s Story tells the inspiring story of a young man’s journey from war torn Sudan across Western Sahara and the Mediterranean to new beginnings in Sheffield.
• One World Choir features powerful spoken word poetry, song and stories of strength found through community.
The Big Blue Bradford House - Bowling Park, Bradford
The Big Blue Bradford House - Bowling Park, Bradford
Thursday 19th 2pm-6pm
Friday 20th 12pm-6pm
Saturday 21st 11am-4pm
Sunday 22nd 11am-3pm
As part of the Refugee Week theme - Community as a Superpower, we will use The Moomins to inspire a world of creativity and fun for all the family. You can join us to Build the Big Blue Bradford House; design and create an installation celebrating your most welcoming places in Bradford.
Happy Baby
Happy Baby
Friday 20th 9:30am-10:10am & 10:30am-11:15am
Multi sensory activities for babies and toddlers - experiment with new ways of moving!
Babies session - 9:30am-10:10am: A gentle, sensory session for 0-1.5-year-olds and their grown-ups. Expect sounds, movement and songs.
Toddlers session - 10:30am-11:15am: A high energy session full of jumping, rolling, spinning and dancing. Open to 2–4-year-olds and their grown-ups.
Dancing Queer
Dancing Queer
QTIBPOC Cinema Club X Stand & Be Counted Theatre
21 June | Time: 19:00 | Venue: Gut Level
ABOUT THE SHOW
QTIBPOC Cinema Club and Stand & Be Counted Theatre invite you to an evening of queering and decolonising Arabic dance alongside a sharing of Shrouk Al- Attar’s ‘Dancing Queer’.
Explore the world of dance with Shrouk through a workshop & performance as she merges her experience as a drag king, belly dancer, engineer and queer refugee. Then shake your hips to the iconic SWANA beats of DJ Atrialia- one of the few openly queer femme DJs from the Arab world.
Stand & Be Counted Theatre is the UK’s First Theatre Company of Sanctuary.
QTIBPOC Cinema Club is a space for queer people of colour in Sheffield with monthly film nights and queer cultural celebrations.
Tickets will be available soon via the Gut Level website.
YOUTH THEATRE OF SANCTUARY at Midsummer Festival
YOUTH THEATRE OF SANCTUARY at Midsummer Festival
RivelinCo's Midsummer Festival in Hillsborough Park is a huge celebration of creativity and community in North Sheffield, featuring exciting collaborations with artists, performers, and over 40 community partners.
RivelinCo and Migration Matters are working in partnership this year to present The Bare Project's Common Threads, Stand & Be Counted’s Youth Theatre of Sanctuary, Romano Jilo dance, and music from Makvy and the Ukrainian School Band at Midsummer Festival.
Stand & Be Counted Theatre's Youth Theatre of Sanctuary
This Refugee Week, Stand & Be Counted's Youth Theatre of Sanctuary are flexing their superpowers! Grab your capes as we grab the mic. Everyone is welcome to dance along!
The festival is free and suitable for all ages. 
Fabric of the World
Fabric of the World
Fresh from London Fashion Week, join us on the cobbles of Leah’s Yard for an immersive celebration of global threads and the clothes that make us. Expect live music, storytelling and seriously good style, this alternative catwalk platforms the transformative power of fabric to connect communities and alter ego…
Stand & Be Counted are the UK’s first Theatre Company of Sanctuary and Soap Box Collective is our international theatre group for young adults. Kazna Asker is known for her political act ivism through fashion, combining traditional Arabic fabrics with nylon tracksuits and outerwear.
Dress to impress!
Please note: Include discussion of genocide
Kazna Asker x Stand and Be Counted Theatre - Fashion Design Workshop
Fashion Design Workshop
Kazna Asker, as part of Mini MigMat at the Monty
28 June | Time: 10:00 | Venue: The Montgomery
ABOUT THE EVENT
Join us for the return of Mini Migration Matters Festival at The Monty, a programme co-curated with the Youth Theatre of Sanctuary, and co-led by Stand & Be Counted Theatre.
London Fashion Week designer Kazna Asker is teaming up with Stand & Be Counted Theatre, the UK’s first theatre company of sanctuary, to deliver a unique Fashion Design Workshop tailored specifically for the Youth Sanctuary of Theatre.
Designed for children aged 5–11, this exciting collaboration offers young participants the opportunity to explore fashion as a form of creative expression and cultural identity. Under the guidance of Kazna Asker, attendees will learn how to design and craft their own accessories and artwork—from bracelet making to canvas painting.
Come along, get creative, and enjoy the experience!
Please note: Children need to be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times.
Among Good People x STAND & BE COUNTED THEATRE - Football Shirt Customisation Workshop
Among Good People x Stand and Be Counted TheatreFootball Shirt Customisation Workshop
ABOUT THE EVENT
Join us for the return of Mini Migration Matters Festival at The Monty, a programme co-curated with the Youth Theatre of Sanctuary, and co-led by Stand & Be Counted Theatre.
Join community focused streetwear brand Among Good People and Stand & Be Counted Theatre for a Football Shirt Customisation Workshop, aimed at young people from 5 to 15.
You'll get the opportunity to create something brand new to take home with you!
Please note: Children need to be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times.
Welcome Toolkit
COMING SOON!
A guide to welcoming and listening
Making inclusive arts with people from around the world!
This guide is for people who use or want to use arts-based activities, techniques and practices to co-create arts interventions to bring together people from different backgrounds, dismantle hierarchies and to challenge and rebalance unequal power dynamics. It is for practitioners, researchers, funders and advocates.
Find out more and register interest here
The Railway Children - An Immersive Journey
We’re excited to be working with the Bradford 2025 and York Theatre Royal team on an immersive project as part of their production of The Railway Children.
More information coming soon!
RIPPLES
Live Performance. Digital Exhibition. Ripples.
Ripples is a very special project with Tafadzwa Muchenje coming this autumn.
Live@The Library: Count Me In
🎉 Join us for a vibrant celebration of storytelling and community voices 📚✨ as part of Stand and Be Counted’s 🎭 15th anniversary season at Oldham Library!
🌟 Our recent immersive productions in Oldham, including Secret Summer 🌞, Gifted 🎁, and GlowBus 🚌, have captivated audiences.
💡 Expect powerful performances that illuminate the perspectives of people seeking sanctuary 🕊️ in Oldham and beyond, using creativity and connection to inspire change. 🎨🤝
Tickets available now!
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/livethelibrary-count-me-in-tickets-1236223520829
YTOS pop up Book
POP UP BOOK
Unfolding the Wonderful World of Stand and Be Counted’s Youth Theatre of Sanctuary with The Montgomery Theatre and Arts Centre
Step into a world where stories take shape, paper comes alive, and imagination knows no bounds. Our new pop up book invites you to explore a stunning collection of paper pop-up books; illustrated, written and created by the talented young people of the Youth Theatre of Sanctuary in collaboration with Pop Up Book Artist and Paper Engineer Alex Bennett. Artists and illustrators Naureen Hafeez and Nicola Storr also joined sessions with the young people - alongside the regular facilitators in the room; Nahzi Nabipour, Muetesim Abdel, Alison Abankwa and Olivia Sheringham.
Using Alex’s expertise and guidance, the Youth Theatre of Sanctuary has transformed their stories into dynamic, three-dimensional works of art. So much more than your average pop up book, Youth Theatre of Sanctuary have created their magical mythology; each pop-up chapter bursts with life, blending intricate paper engineering with stories of adventure, bravery and finding your place in the world.
So join us at The Montgomery Theatre and Arts Centre to share not only the power of storytelling but also the extraordinary skill and imagination it takes to bring these stories off the page.
Let's unfold a new chapter for YTOS, SBC and The Monty…
Date: 14/12/2024
Time: 11:00PM - 13:00PM
Address: The Montgomery Arts Centre, 27 Surrey Street, Sheffield, England, S1 2LG
The Welcome Guest Book
To celebrate all of Bradford Libraries becoming Libraries of Sanctuary, you're invited to come and sign our special big welcome guest book.
GLOWBUS
GlowBus will tour Oldham between Monday 11 - Friday 15 November. You can see the full digital exhibition on Saturday 16 November in a special event as part of the Oldham town centre festive light switch on.
unplugged
Unplugged
Stand & Be Counted Theatre & University of Sheffield
19 June | 20:00 | Venue: Sidney and Matilda
In Partnership with Migration Matters Festival
In a world of disconnect, how do we find each other? Join us for live music and storytelling as we explore the power of friendship on the biggest night of our lives! Presented by Stand & Be Counted Theatre’s ‘Soap Box Collective’.
Around The World
Around The World
Stand & Be Counted Theatre’s Youth Theatre Of Sanctuary
To celebrate and kick off Refugee Week and Euro 2024, Stand & Be Counted Theatre’s Youth Theatre of Sanctuary group are launching a new hit football song in collaboration with Sheffield FC. ‘Around the World’ will be available on all major platforms alongside a music video and presentations across the week. Stand & Be Counted are an arts charity and the UK’s first Theatre Company of Sanctuary, and Sheffield FC are the World’s First Football Club.
'Around the World' performance will be at 1pm on Saturday 22 June 2024, at Fan City (Devonshire Green) in Sheffield.
Gifted
🎉 We are thrilled to bring you a magical craft trail and party in the heart of Oldham town centre! There’ll be plenty in store with craft activities and magical performances from local talent! 🎶📖🧡🌟
Shared Box Of Creativity Workshops
Calling all, children, young people and families to join us for a series of creative sessions and take part in a special project with communities across Oldham.
Soap Box - Bradford
Join our creative empowerment programme for adults, Soap Box, in the brilliant city of bradford!
If you would like to practice English in a relaxed setting, make new friends, build your confidence and explore your creativity then we would love to welcome you!
Intercultured Festival
Everyone is welcome to the open workshop run by SBC. Come and join in what will be a fabulous workshop exploring live readings, music, a shared meal, activities and dancing!
Playing With Power Exhibition
The ‘Playing With Power’ project explores what happens when you shine a light on the stories from our Youth Theatre of Sanctuary and re-imagine them as a video game creators.
Yorkshire Integration Festival ‘23
It’s back! The Yorkshire Integration Festival returns for 2023! Come along to the Peace Gardens in Sheffield on Sat 30 Sep for a fun-filled day celebrating and a captivating perfomance poem by our very own Youth Theatre Of Sanctuary.
Secret Summer (Oldham)
An immersive audio adventure for the whole family, Secret Summer is a multilingual story walk co-created by Stand & Be Counted; the UK’s first Theatre Company of Sanctuary.
Stand & Be Counted Theatre in Residence at Deer Shed Festival
This summer we are thrilled to be named as Deer Shed Festival's first ever Theatre Company in Residence. We will be presenting a range of productions, films and exhibitions made by our brilliant communities. Don’t miss it!
Together For Change
You are cordially invited to the Creative Revolution!
As part of Migration matters Festival, join us for an evening of live performance, relaxed roundtable discussions, documentary screening and insightful Q&A as we explore the ways in which young people seeking sanctuary can lead on the issues they care about most, and the role of allies to best support them.
Together we can build a platform for the voices we need more of, making positive social change a reality.
Food with Friends
This Refugee Week our Soap Box Bradford group are putting on a reyt good spread!
Join us for a celebration of the recipes and flavours that bring us together. Expect homemade meals from Rohingya, Afghanistan, Yorkshire , Iran and Syria and join us to eat and share stories of the meals that have made us.
Press PLAY ►
Stand & Be Counted's Youth Theatre of Sanctuary present Press PLAY, a welcome performance parade AND music video to launch the opening of brand new Sheffield city centre playground, Pounds Park.
Expect music, dance and PLAY!
Future Proof!
Stand & Be Counted presents Future Proof! A celebration event and film premiere.
End of Term Party
Join us to celebrate an AMAZING first term of our Soap Box Bradford programme!
We are hosting an open workshop and party to welcome you into our creative empowerment sessions and mark the first phase of an incredible journey so far. Together we will share food, stories and maybe even some dance moves!
Help Each Other!
Stand and Be Counted’s Youth Theatre of Sanctuary present ‘Help Each Other!’ a brand new, co-created short film exploring everything we have learned and lived through the Covid-19 pandemic.
ENOUGH!
Join us for an urgent performa nce manifesto as we demand better for every single one of us.
Soap Box - Leeds
We are BUZZING to be back in Leeds with SOAP BOX ready for a mega year of culture!
If you would like to practice English in a relaxed setting, make new friends, build your confidence and explore your creativity then join us!
Family Fun Days
Family Fun Days at The Montgomery are back! This October on the 25th, 26th, 27th and 28th at 10am - 3pm! There will be food, drama games and fun for all the family - see you there! ⚽️🌈🕺🏼🙌🏾
Becoming Us - Exhibition
Welcome to ‘Becoming Us’, an interactive exhibition that invites you to see the world through our eyes, in our words, no-one elses.
Youth Theatre of Sanctuary - York
We are thrilled to be back in York with our Youth Theatre of Sanctuary, in partnership with Pilot Theatre.
We Need Change
Join young people aged 16-25 from across the globe now living in Sheffield for a brand new PERFORMANCE and FILM event at Festival of the Mind.
Secret Summer
An immersive audio adventure for the whole family, Secret Summer is a multilingual story walk co-created by Stand & Be Counted; the UK’s first Theatre Company of Sanctuary.
The Welcome Series
Welcome to The Welcome Series, a new series of short films co-created with our brilliant Soap Box - Coventry participants.
Together
Stand and Be Counted’s Youth Theatre of Sanctuary present ‘Together’ a co-created performance party for Sheffield Theatre’s Together in the City festival. Join us on the Crucible stage for a multilingual celebration of new friendships and big ideas. Join our adventure manifesto!
SOAP BOX YORK
SOAP BOX York
If you would like to practise English in a relaxed setting, make new friends, build your confidence, and explore your creativity then we would love to hear from you! We think theatre and the arts can make the world better and we want you to join us to have some fun over the next few weeks. There’ll be crafting, art, movement, writing and much more!
It will be led by us, Stand and Be Counted; the UK’s first Theatre Company of Sanctuary and we are committed to making work with and for people who are new to the UK.
Every workshop is led by creative professionals, some of whom have lived experience of seeking asylum or migration. Our workshops are friendly and relaxed and there is no time commitment or expectations, you can join us for 20 minutes during one session or two hours every week. We know you have busy lives and important appointments, so join us when you can.
We can cover travel expenses and refreshments. We will have interpreters in the room at all times, if there is any other support you need just let our team know and we will arrange.
A collaboration with Pilot Theatre and Explore York and funded by York City Council and Arts Council England.
Dates, times and venues:
Sunday 27 February 1pm-3pm: York Explore, YO1 7DS
Sunday 6 March 1pm-3pm: York Explore, YO1 7DS
Sunday 13 March 1pm-3pm: York Explore, YO1 7DS
Sunday 20 March 1pm-3pm: Location TBC
Sunday 27 March 1pm-3pm: Location TBC
Sunday 3 April 1pm-3pm: Location TBC
To sign up or arrange a chat, send an email with your name and number to info@sbctheatre.co.uk
SOAP BOX Coventry
Hello friends, we are soo excited to be back in Coventry and see you all again for our new exciting workshop!! If you want to practice English, have fun and make new friends then we would love to hear from you, Starting from the 10th of February, every Thursday from 10 am to 2 pm at Broad Street Hall, 124 Broad Street, Foleshill, CV6 5BG
We would love to see you all again and have fun together!!
If you have any questions please get in touch!
past Events
CONTACTGET IN TOUCH.
Enquiries: info@sbctheatre.co.uk
OUR STORY
Stand and Be Counted make campaign theatre with a proud record for welcoming new audiences to the theatre. Our work is adventurous and highly political, merging lived experience with new ideas. We believe that theatre is a vital tool in the pursuit of positive social change and justice. Art is activism and by changing hearts and minds we will change policy.