Stories of Hope
On the 25th March 2026, we held an Immersive performance-based Exhibition at Burnley Youth Theatre, inviting visitors to experience some of the asylum journey by placing themselves in the shoes of refugees and asylum seekers seeking entry into the UK, and to hear first hand the stories of their journeys to safety.
This project came in response to the unrest and rise in racial tensions that followed the Southport tragedy and subsequent riots. We wanted to do something for our whole community - bringing people together in shared common humanity, valuing the strengths and opportunities diversity can bring, helping Burnley to thrive and prosper.
Elmi Ali - Project Artist
Elmi Ali is a North-West-based creative whose practice spans writing, directing, facilitating, translation, performance, and education. His work interrogates the intersection of language, form, and creative resistance within global postcolonial narratives under late-stage capitalism.
Instagram: @elmisaurus
Email: elmi_ali@hotmail.com