Sharing Stories
Gathering reflections from Bedford's migrant and refugee communities.
Artists & Associates
‘Sharing Stories’ is a multi-arts project for and with first-generation migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, that creatively explores their stories, narratives and reflections. Continuing our partnership with LegalAliens Theatre, this programme facilitates the sharing of stories through a range of artistic practices.
Over the next few months, through a series of workshops, communities and individuals will collaborate with artists towards a performance event at The Place Theatre, Bedford, on 7th November 2026.
Stories of Belonging
‘Sharing Stories’ draws on the expertise of LegalAliens Theatre’s hugely successful, pioneering and award winning work with migrant communities and refugees in London. This programme is open to all regardless of their English language level.
The project sets out to celebrate Bedford’s migrant and refugee communities through the reciprocal act of story sharing. In collaboration with these communities, artists will work with the narratives to express lived stories through art.
Refugee Week 15th-21st June
LegalAliens Theatre will be running a story gathering and origami workshop.
Date: Wednesday 17th June
Location: 1st Floor, Bedford Central Library, Harpur Street, Bedford.
Time: 11am – 4pm
Participants can drop in and will be invited to share a story. This may be written, drawn and in any language on a piece of origami paper which will then be folded into a crane.
These stories and cranes will later become part of installations, performance pieces and artwork as the project progresses.
Also look out for our ‘Sharing Stories’ boxes that are located at BRASS (27b Tavistock Street, Bedford) and The Higgins (Castle Lane, Bedford). We invite members of the Bedford migrant and refugee communities to anonymously contribute a story to the project. Paper and pens will be provided.
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.
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.
