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Nottingham Playhouse as a Theatre of Sanctuary: Exploring the benefits of creative programmes for refugee and asylum seeking communities

    Collaboratory 2026 PhD Project

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    Key Details

    Project Title: Nottingham Playhouse as a Theatre of Sanctuary: Exploring the benefits of creative programmes for refugee and asylum-seeking communities 

    Deadline:11:59pm, 30th November 2025 

    Host University: University of Nottingham

    School/department:  School of English

    Start date: Wednesday 1st April 2026

    Funding offer: Tuition fees covered in full (worth approx. £15-17k across full PhD programme). Monthly stipend based on £20,780 per annum, pro rata, tax free.

    Working hours: Full-time (minimum 37.5 hrs per week). 

    Working style: Primarily in-person at host university. Flexible working supported. Working pattern to be agreed between successful candidate and lead supervisor.  

    Project Supervisors

    About The Project

    Refugees face a range of challenges when integrating into host societies, including difficulties with mental health, social inclusion, and communication. The challenge for Nottingham in supporting refugees is acute as the city welcomes a higher proportion compared to both national and East Midlands averages (Nottingham City Council, 2024). Local Nottingham services and communities face additional pressures to facilitate effective support mechanisms. This comes at a time when it has never been more important: refugees face a national political and social climate in which sometimes violent anti-refugee protests are both growing in number and seemingly sanctioned by an increasingly mainstream political rhetoric.  

    Various community-based support mechanisms have been implemented to aid refugee integration, including drop-in centres and community events. Among these, arts-based interventions—e.g., visual arts, storytelling, music, drama—have emerged as promising tools. These creative approaches can support emotional expression, foster a sense of identity, and enhance communication skills (e.g., Edwards et al., 2020; Hiang et al., 2025; Oepen & Gruber, 2024). Typically delivered by local councils and charitable organisations, these programmes aim to create inclusive environments where refugees can build confidence and connect with others.  

    One such local organisation is Nottingham Playhouse, which has held Theatre of Sanctuary status, awarded by City of Sanctuary UK, since 2021. The Playhouse has a stated aim to be a place of welcome, offering opportunities and above all safe spaces to refugee and asylum-seeking communities. Alongside community partners, the Playhouse provides opportunities including a Conversation Café and backstage tours.  

    However, the effectiveness of arts-based interventions remains uncertain and difficult to fully capture. Much existing evidence is anecdotal or based on small-scale studies, with limited rigorous evaluation. Indeed, there is a lack of robust research clearly demonstrating the impacts of these initiatives on psychosocial wellbeing and language development (Ware & Dunphy, 2019). Moreover, and crucially, refugee community voice in existing research is often missing.  

    This project has been co-created with and is supported by researchers from University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University and partners at Nottingham Playhouse. The successful candidate for this project will be enrolled at University of Nottingham.  

    Project Aims 

    The overall aims of the project are:     

    1. To complete a review bringing together all current understanding in this area, drawing on both the more informal/anecdotal evidence available alongside published academic literature.  
    2. To examine the perceived benefits and challenges to accessing and engaging with the creative and arts-based programmes offered by the Playhouse. This will not only provide insight into the impact of such programs but also amplify participant presence and voice in informing strategic development and future programming, opening the way for further and deeper participation from refugee and asylum-seeking communities.  
    3. To evaluate the effectiveness of Nottingham Playhouse’s refugee arts programmes, to provide concrete evidence capturing the benefits of such programmes.  
    4. To explore how those communities, often transient, develop an understanding of Nottingham Playhouse as a Theatre of Sanctuary: What makes a creative space (and) a safe space?    

    Core Competencies 

    Category

    Competencies 

    Assessed:

    Application (A), Interview (I) 

    Comprehension and evaluation 

    Strong understanding of the project and its subject matter. 

    A / I 

    Analytical, researcher mindset with keen attention to detail. 

    A / I 

    Communicate complex concepts with clarity and precision. 

    A / I 

    Able to identify connections, patterns, gaps, and irregularities in information/data. 

    I

    Able to interpret data/information confidently with logic and empathy to derive meaning. 

    I

    Social and emotional

    Demonstrable experience of responding effectively to changing contexts, information and demands. 

    A

    Ability to persevere in the face of challenges/failures and to remain constructive in developing solutions. 

    A

    Demonstrable passion for learning with clear drive and curiosity to undertake this specific research project.

    A / I

    Willingness to immerse oneself in the research subject matter and make a contribution to new knowledge through a PhD. 

    A / I 

    Strong desire to make a positive community impact through the research. 

    A / I 

    Willingness to think deeply about complex concepts and engage with academic ideas and theory. 

    A / I

    Preparedness and potential for success

    Experience of working, collaborating and communicating effectively with different stakeholders. 

    A 

    High level of self-motivation and ability to work with minimal guidance. 

    A / I 

    Strong organisational and time-management skills with the ability to balance and prioritise multiple tasks. 

    A / I 

    Ability to identify potential challenges and complexities and thoughtfully consider possible solutions. 

    A / I 

    Able to identify the technical, personal, or professional skills required for a task and take action to develop these. 

    A / I 

    Community Context

    Genuine desire to undertake community-engaged research over more traditional approaches to research. 

    A 

    Understand the impact of and need for the inclusion of diverse experiences and points of view in research. 

    A / I 

    Appreciation/understanding of the importance of community insight and experience in the generation of new knowledge. 


    A / I 


    Awareness/understanding of the broader societal context related to the subject matter of the project. 

    A / I 

    Project-Specific Competencies 

    EssentialAssessed: 
    Application (A), Interview (I)     		Desirable Assessed: 
    Application (A), Interview (I) 
    Being culturally competent, i.e., the ability to interact and communicate with a diverse group of individuals from different cultures in a sensitive and supportive manner.          A / I Experience of working with migrants, refugees or asylum seekers.      A / I 
    Commitment to and experience working with refugees and/or marginalised communities.   A / I Able to work and communicate with people from diverse backgrounds. Work collaboratively with the supervisor.       A / I 
    Some understanding of wider contextual issues relating to the project (challenges faced by refugees, benefits of the arts, etc.)        A / I Experience participating in the arts (e.g., playing music/singing, drama, etc.)      A / I 
    A Familiarity and desire to work with people of the local area.      A / IExperience or understanding of arts venues as hosts for community and/or education activities.    A / I
    Apply here

    NOTE: The successful candidate for this project will be required to undergo a formal Disclosure and Barring Services check.

    References for Further Reading 

    1. Kidd, B., Zahir, S. & Khan, S. (2008). Arts and Refugees: History, Impact and Future. Arts Council England, The Baring Foundation & The Paul Hamlyn Foundation. https://www.a-n.co.uk/research/arts-refugees-history-impact-future/  
    2. McKay, S. & Bradley, J. (2016). How does arts practice engage with narratives of migration from refugees? Lessons from ‘utopia’. Journal of Arts & Communities, 8(1+2), 31–46. doi: https://doi.org/10.1386/jaac.8.1-2.31_1  
    3. Nottingham City Council. (2024). People Seeking Asylum, Refugees and People Refused Asylum. Nottingham Insight. https://www.nottinghaminsight.org.uk/themes/health-and-wellbeing/joint-strategic-needs-assessment/adults/people-seekingasylum-refugees-and-people-refused-asylum-2024/  
    4. Smith, A. (2016). Creative English: Balancing creating and functional language needs for adult refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. Scenario: A Journal of Performative Teaching, Learning, Research, X(1), 1–17. Available open access via CORA: https://cora.ucc.ie/items/94bf2fc3-5b91-48b8-b927-78e5d49028e3  
    5. Tip, L.K., Brown, R., Morrice, L., Collyer, M. and Easterbrook, M.J. (2019). Improving Refugee Well-Being with Better Language Skills and More Intergroup Contact. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 10(2): 144–151. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550617752062  
    6. Yang N, Gong Y. (2025) A scoping review on arts-based interventions for the mental health of refugee and asylum-seeking children and youth. Perspectives in Public Health, 145(4), 209-219. doi:10.1177/17579139251353431