Welcoming the Ukrainian/British Friendship Group...

We have recently been hosting a group of Ukrainian refugee families who have been meeting weekly at the theatre. 

The Ukrainian/British Friendship Group is made up of Ukrainian refugee children, British host children and their families. The group's leader, Natalia Mirkun, fled Ukraine with her young daughter and arrived in the UK in August 2022.

As a building built by and for our local community, we always strive to be a friendly, welcoming, inclusive, diverse and accessible space. We have provided the Ukrainian/British Friendship Group a free space to use at the theatre as well as support from our staff. The group have been dancing and crafting here every Saturday afternoon and have also been receiving English tuition.

Natalia said about leading the group: "I wanted to create something which brings together British and Ukrainian children. For me, it is a symbol that our power is just to be together, to look in the same way, to support each other so that we can have an amazing world for our children. We need to start now and to work together."

On Thu 1 December the group performed together on behalf of Lawrence Batley Theatre at a fundraiser event organised by the annual Kirklees and Calderdale Charity Lunch (KACCL).

Recently we were able to invite 40 members of the group to see Jack and the Beanstalk thanks to the generous donations to our Christmas Heroes appeal. Natalia said of the trip: "It was our first pantomime in our life but it is love at first sight. Thank you for the children's happiness and for this magic!"

In the new year the group are performing in A Festive Celebration on Fri 6 January 2023. There are a limited number of tickets available to see the group perform.

If you would like to find out more about the Ukrainian/British Friendship Group, please contact our Head of Participation, Rebecca Winwood - rebecca@thelbt.org 

Photos by Elspeth Moore