Posted on: 10th October 2024

Traditionally, churches across the world have offered sanctuary to those seeking safety from persecution. But how do we react when that ideal becomes a reality?

When Alland, a young Iranian man, begs to be given sanctuary at St Mary’s church in a northern town, it sparks a community to react in all the ways each member believes to be right. Molly, a young worker there, joins forces with vicar Fiona to resist both the angry vigilantes and the hard-hearted authorities beyond the church walls to try to protect Alland. 

Holding a special community service where voices on all sides sing their songs of redemption and condemnation, Fiona asks the question to everyone present: do we give Alland over to the State or live up to our well-versed ideals of compassion?   

Sanctuary is a brand-new musical that welcomes us in and asks the question: do we want safety and freedom for only ourselves, or for us all? A vital story of one man’s hopes for help and support in a time when not all strangers are welcomed.

Kindly supported by the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s Safer Communities Fund.

All performances will be captioned via The Difference Engine, a tool that enables d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing people to read performance captions on their phone. 

Age guidance 12+

Warning: violence & violent, aggressive, threatening behaviour. Derogatory language about immigrants and some ethnic minorities.