Hull Truck Theatre is marking a special milestone this summer: one year since being awarded its coveted Theatre of Sanctuary status during Refugee Week 2025. As the only theatre in the East Yorkshire and Humber region to hold this accreditation, the company has spent the past year embedding its learning across every part of the organisation - from programming and audience development to participation and partnerships.
Over the last 12 months, the theatre has continued to deepen its outreach work, collaborating with specialist groups across the city to ensure refugees and sanctuary seekers feel genuinely welcomed and represented. This commitment has shaped a wide range of creative initiatives, all designed to extend inclusion beyond a statement and into everyday practice.
The theme for Refugee Week 2026 is courage - inspired by the strength shown by people seeking sanctuary as they navigate new beginnings, unfamiliar places and uncertain futures. In celebration of this, Hull Truck Theatre, in partnership with the Refugee Council, will host a visual art exhibition created through two dedicated workshops led by Square Peg, Hull. All artwork has been produced by Refugee Council clients and reflects the lived experiences behind this year’s theme.
Throughout their first year as a Theatre of Sanctuary, Hull Truck Theatre has continued to build meaningful relationships with Open Doors, Welcome House, Refugee Council, Welcome to English, CIAC’s Women’s Group, HANA and Borashabaa. What began with the inaugural Celebrating Sanctuary event in 2025 has grown into ongoing engagement, with sanctuary seekers regularly attending productions such as Pride & Prejudice, Oliver Twist, The Little Mermaid, Macbeth and the family show A Great Adventure.
One sanctuary seeking family has joined the theatre’s 2025/26 cohort of Family Reviewers, helping shape the theatre’s family offer and ensuring sanctuary voices are represented in future work.
The theatre’s creative outreach has also expanded, with storyboarding sessions and collaborative art projects involving sanctuary seekers. Their artwork is now proudly displayed within the building, offering a visible welcome and a celebration of shared creativity.
A free Creative ESOL programme, delivered in partnership with the University of Hull, provided around 50 engagements over four weeks. Using drama to support conversational English, the sessions helped build confidence, connection and a sense of belonging - all contributing to increased attendance from sanctuary seeking communities.
Hull Truck Theatre’s Refugee Week 2026 exhibition will run until Saturday 20 June, with a launch event on Wednesday 17 June, 12pm–2.30pm. To learn more about the theatre’s ongoing commitment as a Theatre of Sanctuary, visit their website: www.hulltruck.co.uk/about-us/theatre-of-sanctuary/