Theatre of Sanctuary

In 2018, Opera North became the first opera company in the UK to be awarded Theatre of Sanctuary status, gaining reaccreditation in 2022.

The accolade recognises the steps being taken by organisations to ensure refugees and those seeking sanctuary in the city feel included, valued and celebrated through increased accessibility to the arts.

The Theatre of Sanctuary award. The silhouette of two people holding hands inside a wreath.

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Being a Theatre of Sanctuary is a continuous responsibility and, through our ongoing work with refugees and sanctuary seekers in Leeds and surrounding areas, we look to ensure everyone can enjoy the life-enhancing benefits which music and performance can bring.

“Over the years, Opera North have gone above and beyond to ensure that people who have fled to the UK from war and persecution have found sanctuary and welcome. They have reached out into communities to ensure the many joys of the opera can be experienced by all, including those who too often find themselves isolated and excluded from much of society.”

– Mary Brandon, City of Sanctuary

Sanctuary through Partnership

Our Encore Scheme engages with community groups and organisations working with people who have barriers which prevent them from engaging fully with the arts. Members are offered free or heavily subsidised tickets to both mainstage performances and those in the Howard Assembly Room, workshops, taster performances and bespoke events. Many of the groups in the scheme work with refugee and asylum seekers to ensure they feel welcomed and included in the city.

The research of Hope Bachmann who is studying for a PhD looking at building solidarity with refugees and sanctuary seekers through the arts, has shown that Opera North’s work in this area plays a vital role in creating a sense of belonging among the sanctuary-seeking community: “It reminded them, and reinforced, that they too had a right to be part of this community, that they are a part of this community. That they are Leeds. Just like you. Just like me.”

A group of sanctuary seekers on a tour of Opera North's home

Sanctuary through Performance

We are committed to giving refugees and sanctuary seekers a voice, with the Howard Assembly Room in particular providing a stage for people from different cultures.

Every year, as part of Refugee Week, we host a concert in the venue giving people with experience of migration the opportunity to share their musical talents with others. In 2023, this included a performance by Iranian refugee Amir Beymanesh with composer/ musician Farshad Mohammadi and soprano Aimée Fisk – the culmination of a creative residency as part of Opera North’s Resonance programme.

Sanctuary seekers have also taken part in People’s Lullabies. Filmed in locations across the city chosen by the participants, 23 people performed a song which held special meaning for them, with the resulting films being screened in Leeds Art Gallery in December 2023.

Sanctuary through Creativity

By providing opportunities for creative expression, we are looking to recognise the incredible skills that people carry with them across borders.

As part of the Writing Home project which created a musical trail for the Howard Opera Centre, Opera North’s redeveloped home in Leeds, musicians Christella Litras and Leroy Johnson worked with a group of refugee and sanctuary seekers in Wakefield. Together they composed and recorded the song ‘Home is a Feeling’. The participants came up with the theme that home is less a structure and more to do with the love of those around you, and contributed solo sections in their own languages.

“When I started the workshop I felt very down but after attending my mood completely changed. At home we use music to meditate and think and this made me feel like that.”

– Participant, Writing Home, Refugee Council

Sanctuary through Sharing

To enable staff to gain a greater understanding of sanctuary seeking in the UK, we hold awareness sessions where leaders of sanctuary support organisations share their knowledge and members of the sanctuary seeking community share their stories. Subsequent skills sharing has included engaging freelance musicians to provide accompaniment on new compositions, and our Marketing team offering their expertise to build audience engagement for a drama project.

Opera North also leads on Arts Together, a city-wide network of arts and community organisations working towards making the arts accessible to all. This includes sharing expertise and best practice among the members, as well as providing an online guide of welcoming and inspiring arts events.

“Opera North creates equality between those that can afford and those that have nothing, to go and experience something together.”

– Tabita, Leeds asylum-seeker

Celebrating community and arts at the Arts Together Summer Party © Tom Arber

Andrew, Trustee at St. Augustine’s Centre, Halifax:

“All of us at St Augustine’s really appreciate what Opera North has done and continues to do for people seeking sanctuary in Yorkshire. The performances, workshops, recording sessions and the Open Mic night have been wonderful experiences for our centre members and those of us around them and close to them, giving them an opportunity to participate, learn, listen and perform but more importantly to be made welcome, to be part of a creative community, to be enriched and inspired.

“Opera North is truly a Theatre of Sanctuary. Thank you from all us.”