Good Chance, Theatre of Sanctuary

1.1 MILLION PEOPLE reached in 8 YEARS, across 506 EVENTS in 11 DOME THEATRES OF HOPE and 3 MAJOR PRODUCTIONS and we’re now officially a Theatre of Sanctuary!

What started in a small tent in the muddy fields of Calais has grown into a global movement of hope and humanity. Since then we have co-created our award-winning play The Jungle, the giant public artwork The Walk with Little Amal, and the world’s largest international kite-flying festival to celebrate Afghan culture, Fly With Me, with over 5,000 artists from sanctuary-seeking backgrounds to encourage a culture of welcome, solidarity and compassion.

The refugee who sits alone, he does not just need food, or some materials, he needs also hope. Good Chance gives hope. You need to feel you are not alone, you need to feel someone sits beside you, he cares about you.

— Yousef, Good Chance Paris

What is a Theatre of Sanctuary?

The Arts Stream of Sanctuary, developed by City of Sanctuary UK and Counterpoint Arts, celebrates creative sector organisations working with refugees, telling stories of migration and bringing communities together – all whilst encouraging more organisations to do the same. You can find out more about the award and how to apply here - take the pledge today!

“I found friends at Good Chance, who made me feel like a human being. They made me feel that there is still humanity in the world and a chance for life. People used to ask me what I was looking for when I fled my homeland. I am just looking for dignity, peace, happiness and humanity. I just want to live like everybody else in this world.”

— Mohammed from Sudan, Good Chance Paris

Why is Good Chance a Theatre of Sanctuary?

Through our productions, Good Chance Ensemble and place-based projects we have seen the potential of art to unite communities, tell stories of our shared humanity and create new opportunities for diverse communities around the UK and beyond. It is theatre and creativity that has the power to alter hearts and minds, spark new conversations about complex urgent issues, including migration and the climate crisis, and make real change possible. 

The Good Chance story began in Calais 2015 inside a plain white canvassed dome – a theatre, a concert hall, an art studio and a play area rolled into one. Created with and curated by refugees, our original Theatre of Hope offered people from all over the world, uprooted by circumstance, a space to come together and share their stories, their songs, their culture, to create, feel and dream.

Good Chance was the spark, the start of my chance to be able to use art to improve my life as a refugee, to find my destination and to have the confidence in my life in the UK. Being part of a Good Chance, I felt part of something.

— Hamed, Commissioned Ensemble Artist 2021, who we first met in the Calais Jungle camp in 2015, then worked with at our UK Encampment Dome in 2017

From closely working with local communities and individuals to global stories on the international stage over the past 8 years, we hope to continue to influence culture and inspire real understanding, awareness and compassion.

We believe that it is our collective responsibility to change the narrative for people from refugee and migrant backgrounds in the UK, and those experiencing forced displacement globally.

Our Vision of Sanctuary

We are thrilled to have been awarded a Theatre of Sanctuary title, but this is just the beginning. We are eager to continue to listen and learn from people seeking sanctuary, committed to embed the voices and experiences of people who have found a new home in the UK into our programmes and share vital stories of those seeking sanctuary around the world.

You can read more about Good Chance, The Theatre of Hope and our impact so far.

Good Chance truly exemplifies sanctuary in the arts. This award is so incredibly well deserved - their innovative and radically inclusive programming has brought stories of displacement to a global audience, has broken down barriers, brought communities together and has fostered widespread compassion for people seeking sanctuary. We live in scary times, but Good Chance gives us hope.

— Siân Summer Rees, Chief Officer at City of Sanctuary