Stand & Be Counted launch a new creative hub above a music venue.
We are excited to be entering an exciting new era after launching a new creative hub above a music venue.
Arts charity Stand & Be Counted Theatre is now based at state-of-the-art Electric Studios on Leadmill Road, in a move symbolic of the venue’s wider creative role in the city.
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Stand & Be Counted Team: Rosie MacPherson, John Tomlinson, Smart Jervas Banda, Chelsea Morgan, Zoe Katsilerou, Muetesim Ahmed and Nahzi Nabipour
Photo Credit: Nicole Jewitt
The move means SBC’s groups for young people and adults have a dedicated home to host performances, workshops or creative collaborations.
The impressive facility over two floors includes new offices, a shared studio for exhibitions or installations and a main workshop area suitable for 60-capacity performances.
Rosie MacPherson, joint CEO of Stand & Be Counted Theatre, said:
This is such an exciting prospect, because it gives us a home for our creative communities and a space to share our world of sanctuary.
“Moving into Electric Studios gives us the stability we need but also the thrill of being part of such an exciting creative community.
Photo Credit: Smart Jervas Banda
“There is so much history and inspiration in the fabric of the building. From this month, we will be welcoming thousands of people into the new space every year.”
SBC’s move adds a new dimension to Electric Studios’ growing live music and club programme. A £2 million refurbishment of the former Leadmill nightclub has transformed the building into a higher capacity venue with co-working and creative spaces.
Sheffield artist Kid Acne - known for his street murals - is also launching a new base there. The upcoming music programme includes Sheffield stars Milburn celebrating 20 years of Well Well Well with a hometown show on October 24th.
Other autumn highlights are We Are Scientists on October 3, Dusky’s Signals Tour on October 16th, Channel One Sound System on November 5, Sheffield producer Silva Bumpa’s sold out date on November 7 and Reef on November 12th.
Fat Dog has also been announced for February 2027.
Nicole Jewitt, Above Electric Studios’ community and arts project manager, said: “What’s exciting about SBC moving in is that it’s starting to show what we’ve talked about from the beginning: that this building can be about much more than just gigs and club nights.
“We’ve now got people making theatre, running workshops, developing projects and using the building every week alongside the live programme.
“It feels like the creative community around Electric is really starting to take shape, and I’m excited to see what grows from having all these different people working under one roof.”
Stand & Be Counted Theatre is the UK’s first theatre company of sanctuary and an associate company of Sheffield Theatres. It works with people of all ages seeking sanctuary and recent Sheffield projects have included breaking a world record for the longest multi-chain football scarf.
Photo: Ripples, Tafadzwa Muchenje | Writer & Performer
Photo Credit: Minnie Boulton
Next year the company will take its acclaimed production of Ripples - which retells an extraordinary true life story of immigration injustice - to London’s Bush Theatre and then across the UK on tour. In Sheffield, the production will be performed at Electric Studios after selling out a previous run at Bloc Projects.
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Stand & Be Counted Theatre works primarily across Sheffield, Bradford and Oldham.
Find out more at https://www.sbctheatre.co.uk/
Photography by Tom Robbins and Nicole Jewitt. For interviews please contact Ellen Beardmore ellen@editsheffield.co.uk
