We're proud to be committing to Theatre of Sanctuary Status.
Cast works in partnership with Doncaster Conversation Club, who support people who are seeking asylum in Doncaster.
Over recent years, the Paul Hamlyn Foundation has funded over 300 free theatre tickets for Sanctuary Seekers as well as opportunities to work with world-class theatre companies such as Gecko and English Touring Theatre.
People seeking asylum have also had the chance to take part in theatre performances and events such as ‘The Truth to Power Café’ in February 2018 and an Open Mike Mefil in July 2018, providing a platform for sharing personal stories through spoken word. Cast has worked with Sanctuary seekers through our Scriptworks programme which supports local artists to develop their written work and their performances skills.
We also use our public platform to promote events such as refugee week, having a visible presence at community events and ensuring this is reflected through Cast’s social media and charitable aims.
We are proud that our Associate Artist programme allows us to partner with SBC Theatre, the UK’s first theatre company of sanctuary. We're also thrilled to continue that partnership by working with Rosie MacPherson, co-founder of Stand and Be Counted (SBC) Theatre, on the National Theatre's Public Acts programme which will include The Conversation Club.
We've been on a journey of discovery over the last few years with training in Cultural Competency to enable a greater understanding about different cultures and to explore unconscious bias.
Cast's Social Seats project has been independently evaluated, embedding the learning throughout what we do here at Cast.
Going forward there is a commitment within Cast’s business plan 2018-2022 to ‘engage the least engaged and most vulnerable.’ There is also a commitment in the organisation to continue the Social Seats project past its explore and test 2 year phase.
Over the next, 3 years we will develop a volunteering programme offering meaningful opportunities for engagement and learning for our Sanctuary Seeker community. We will continuing our commitment to providing more opportunities to attend performances and workshops Working in partnerships with local influencers including DN4ALL – raising awareness in the wider community around tolerance and respect and opposing racism.
We will continue working with theatre companies such as Red Ladder to provide opportunities to take part in free workshops and activities.
Above all, we have a commitment to widening the diversity within the programming of Cast . To work with sanctuary seekers as part of our partnership with the National Theatre Public Acts performance, creating opportunities for individuals to perform on stage at Cast in a large scale theatrical production.
