Maison Foo are proud to be a Theatre Company of Sanctuary
Image by Jon Legge
we seek to empower, support & inspire people seeking sanctuary in the uk.
We’re currently raising funds for our Creative Sanctuary Group. Your donation is really appreciated! x
Maison Foo are a Theatre Company of Sanctuary.
Our mission is to:
Empower, support & inspire people seeking sanctuary in the UK
Transform lives and perceptions
Create families and neighbourhoods
Share stories, and build bridges of empathy
Facilitate artistic development
Maison Foo are proud signatories of The City of Sanctuary Pledge.
“We support the ‘City of Sanctuary’ vision that the UK will be a welcoming place of safety for all and proud to offer sanctuary to people fleeing violence and persecution.
We endorse the City of Sanctuary Charter, and agree to act in accordance with City of Sanctuary values and apply the network principles within our work (as far as our specific context enables us to).
We recognise the contribution of people seeking sanctuary. People seeking sanctuary are welcomed, included and supported within our context.
We are willing for our organisation’s name to be added to a list of supporters of City of Sanctuary, linked to our website. We are also willing to be contacted by City of Sanctuary with further ideas for how we can turn our support into practical action and to discuss ways we might work together to promote the vision further.”
Our Journey
2023 - Present
Story chefs
‘Story Chefs’ is our new pop-up story kitchen co-created with our Creative Sanctuary Group. We share heartfelt human stories and food in a variety of pop-up places to build bridges of empathy for local refugees. More coming soon.
2020 - 2022
Meet Your Neighbour Installation & Online
Shortly after A Thing Mislaid, the Meet Your Neighbour Installation was born. You can read all about it on our Live Project page here and also visit our sister website: Meet Your Neighbour Online. Watch our mini documentary to see our launch event and meet some of the neighbours involved.
Creative Sanctuary Group
The Creative Sanctuary Group formed in 2021 with thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund. Read all about our wonderful group here.
A Seat at our Table
Our multisensory theatrical performance with Derby Creative Arts Network! Learn more here.
2018-2019
During the making and tour of our new show A Thing Mislaid, we worked with Derby Theatre and Derby Refugee Advice Centre to set up The Refugee Friends Scheme. We worked with touring partners to develop ways of making theatres more welcoming spaces for people seeking sanctuary. During this project, we welcomed over 120 people seeking sanctuary through the doors of theatres for the first time.
Live Captioning and Translation
During our tour of A Thing Mislaid, we piloted Talking Birds’ Difference Engine to deliver captions in English and Arabic; making the show more accessible for sanctuary communities, and d/Deaf and hard of hearing audiences.
Act 2
During our Autumn 2018 tour, we worked with Journeys Festival International (ArtReach) to pilot ACT 2 at Attenborough Arts Centre - a post show platform for refugee and migratory artists to share early ideas of new work in the making.
“Thank you for your support. I’m happy to have met people like you in my life. I feel more energised and keep going because of people like you around me”
A recent Creative Sanctuary Group member, 2024.
“I can explain what this project and group means in one word ‘Family’ because I don’t have family in the UK. This group is truly like my family. I enjoy it so much and I always look forward to our time together.”
Ahlam Creative Sanctuary group member from Kuwait
Find out about our Meet Your Neighbour Installation
“Maison Foo are transforming lives and perceptions through their impressive commitment in ensuring that people seeking sanctuary are not just talked about in their plays but are at the very heart of everything they do.”
Ben Margolis, Former City of Sanctuary South East, Eastern and Central Regional Coordinator
Watch our journey to becoming a Theatre Company of Sanctuary
Meet Your Neighbour Parties
Dear Neighbour,
We’re having a party and you’re all invited!
We’ve run parties (in person and online!) every year with our friends at Derby Theatre, since 2019.
“The Meet Your Neighbour party was a fantastic scheme for us to work with Maison Foo on… The day turned our theatre foyer into a vibrant hub of activity and it genuinely felt like as a community we were taking real ownership over ensuring everyone feels welcome in our building.”
Sarah Brigham, Artistic Director & Chief Executive, Derby Theatre
You can also book your own party at a venue or space near you!
Partners
These events and projects have been supported by:
The National Lottery Community Fund, Arts Council England, Evan Cornish Foundation, Ben & Jerry’s Foundation, People’s Postcode Lottery, Derby Theatre, Derby CAN & Derby City Council.
Derby Museums, University of Sheffield School of Architecture, Journeys Festival International (ArtReach), Attenborough Arts Centre, Talking Birds Theatre, Migration Matters Festival, Counterpoints Arts, In Good Company, Lincoln Arts Centre, Thrivemind Village & Derby Oddfellows
Sanctuary Partners: Derby City of Sanctuary and the sanctuary network, Derby Refugee Advice Centre, Upbeat Communities, Derbyshire Refugee Solidarity & Derby Red Cross
Thank you to everyone who has supported our work!