Theatre of Sanctuary

Our journey to becoming a Theatre of Sanctuary

At Play to the Crowd, we believe that creativity has no borders. We are incredibly proud to be an officially recognised Theatre of Sanctuary, cementing our commitment to making our venues, festivals, and workshops safe, welcoming, and inclusive spaces for everyone.

We create environments where individuals seeking sanctuary can explore their creativity, share their stories, and find a true sense of belonging.

Our commitment to inclusion and diversity

Through every strand of Play to the Crowd, we welcome artists, participants, and audiences from all walks of life to celebrate culture and the arts. We know that creativity goes far beyond the stage — it has the power to unite, inspire, and change lives.

To turn our vision into reality, we use our platforms to:

• Elevate underrepresented voices: We showcase work and stories that alter perceptions, spark vital conversations, and cultivate empathy within the Winchester District.
• Nurture creative potential: Through tailored mentoring, internships, and performance slots at Hat Fair and on our main theatre stage, we offer safe environments to take risks and collaborate with like-minded people.
• Evolve continuously: We want every participant to feel genuinely valued, and we actively adapt our programs to meet the needs of the diverse communities we meet.

Turning ambition into action: Learn, embed, share

We use the Theatre of Sanctuary's three core principles to guide our ongoing action plan for future activity:

1. Learn

We are committed to continuous education. To ensure our spaces are spaces of genuine safety, our team has undergone Trauma-Informed Approaches training. We have also established a dedicated Diversity and Inclusion Action Group to audit our practices and keep us accountable.

2. Embed

Sanctuary isn't an afterthought; it is woven into the fabric of what we do. Our creative projects and workshops are entirely curated and co-authored alongside our participants, ensuring we listen, respond, and adapt to their interests and needs.

3. Share

We actively collaborate with local partners and stakeholders to share best practices, learn from one another, and build a cohesive, empathetic network across Hampshire.

Stories of Sanctuary: What our partners say

Winchester City of Sanctuary

"Winchester City of Sanctuary are incredibly grateful to Play to the Crowd for welcoming us into their carnival family and helping to make the arts more accessible to people seeking sanctuary. They have gone above and beyond to learn about what sanctuary means and are taking steps to embed sanctuary in the work that they do. We are really enjoying collaborating with them, sharing ideas and really value their expertise and support in helping us to turn ideas into practice. We look forward to working with them now and in the future." – Winchester City of Sanctuary

Winchester Ukrainian Cultural Association

"Our collaborative experiences with Play to the Crowd have been truly inspiring. Your unwavering commitment to building a sense of community, fostering acceptance, and promoting artistic expression has had a profound and positive impact on our Ukrainian community. Play to the Crowd has consistently demonstrated a dedication to breaking down barriers and creating inclusive spaces where individuals from diverse backgrounds feel embraced and valued through initiatives like the Lantern Parade. We are truly thankful for the opportunity to participate in this event, as it allows us to come together and create a sense of acceptance, equality, and importance. The chance to collaborate is always empowering, especially for Ukrainians who have arrived in Winchester due to the war. Your efforts in making this possible are genuinely cherished." – Winchester Ukrainian Cultural Association (Yuliia Dubovyk)

Get involved

We will continue to work passionately over the coming years to ensure Play to the Crowd remains a welcoming, collaborative, and safe haven for those seeking sanctuary. If you are an organisation, refugee support group, or artist looking to collaborate with us on this journey, please get in touch.