The Stage

Theatre Royal, Stratford East to draw refugees in from the cold

Published Tuesday 19 October 2004 at 11:00 by Liz Thomas

Theatre Royal, Stratford East is supporting a new scheme to promote the artistic work and culture of asylum seekers, refugees and their communities.

The Refugees and the Arts Initiative, housed at the theatre, aims to allow such groups to tackle issues of displacement and exile and to provide them with help to enable them to pursue their professions in the UK.

Project coordinator Nela Milic said: “We received funding from the arts council but it is a development fund for one year, so now we need to fundraise to keep it all going. This year we need to raise our profile and show people what we are doing. There are a number of artists - actors, playwrights and performers - living here as refugees and we are here to help them.

“Arts in the UK is really different to what they might know and it is really difficult to fit into the mainstream - you may need to learn new skills. If someone comes to me and says I want to put on a play or an exhibition, then I will find out the information to help them. Being at this theatre is ideal and it fits into the vision on the new artistic director to continue to find new voices.”

Artistic director Kerry Michael sees the partnership as underlining the theatre’s commitment to new works and encouraging new communities to become more involved in theatre.

He said: “The Refugee and the Arts Initiative is a very important first step in engaging with professional artists from around the world, who are now seeking refugee in the UK. I believe they make a valuable contribution to the arts industry as a whole. I am very proud that we are able to host this very important initiative. It clearly supports the work of Theatre Royal, Stratford East in staging stories from artists that need to be heard.”