‘Held’ – A Migrant Theatre Group
A theatre group for first generation migrants, refugees and asylum seekers
Artists & Associates
‘Held’ is a theatre project for first generation migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, supporting their wellbeing through creative workshops. Running from 2025 to 2027, this programme offers regular theatre sessions in Bedford, delivered in partnership with Legal Aliens Theatre, at local theatre venue The Place Bedford.
The project aims to create a sustainable, locally rooted migrant theatre group that supports participants in building confidence, developing new skills, and connecting with others.
Making voices heard
‘Held’ sets out to provide Bedford migrants with a safe space to express themselves through participation in theatre techniques, which will support their wellbeing and further the social integration of Bedford migrants into the Bedfordshire community.
The project enables the voices of migrant particpants to be amplified through the group’s performances so that diverse Bedford audiences are able to learn about the migrants’ experience, developing support and fostering empathy in the community.
Joining the group
The programme provides weekly theatre sessions on Fridays in term-time for adult migrants living in Bedfordshire, with opportunities to develop public sharings and performances at the end of each term.
Register your interest by signing up below. If a space is available, you will be invited to join prior to the start of new term or on the first session of the term.
The weekly sessions have a maximum capacity of 25 people, with a waiting list.
Date: Fridays (term-time only)
Time: 7pm-9pm
Location: The Place Theatre, Bradgate Road, Bedford MK40 3DE
About LegalAliens Theatre
LegalAliens Theatre is a migrant-led, women-led collective based in North London, whose aim is to give a voice to migrants and refugees as participants, artists and creatives. Their work is bold, original, and unafraid of challenging power structures. Taking inspiration from the great pioneers of the 20th Century such as Brecht, LegalAliens add their own original twist. Resisting tokenism, disrupting clichés and dismantling dominant narratives, their productions demonstrate the transformative potential of theatre.
About The Place Bedford
The Place is dedicated to bringing small-scale professional work of the highest quality to Bedford. It has developed a reputation among local audiences as one of the best places to see cutting-edge professional theatre, as well as being the home of Bedford’s best amateur and community-led theatre companies. Committed to increasing the representation of diverse voices and experiences on the local stage, The Place offers a year round programme of theatre, music, comedy and film presenting a breadth of work for everyone in the community.
This project is produced by Bedford Creative Arts in partnership with LegalAliens Theatre.
It is made possible with funding from Garfield Weston Foundation, The Rayne Foundation, The Wixamtree Trust, The Southall Trust and The Gale Family Charity Trust. It is supported by our regular funders, The Harpur Trust and Arts Council England.
