Dido’s Bar Supporters

A 21st-century retelling of Virgil’s Aeneid, Dido’s Bar tells a story of migration, love, and assimilation through the eyes of refugees today in an immersive theatre experience featuring sumptuous music and electrifying storytelling. Over the course of 5 years, we worked with refugee groups and engaged with the community to hear their stories and experiences in the UK and across Europe, and we took our findings and wove them into our script and production. Director Josephine Burton has written in more detail on the creative process here.

In total, reached almost 2000 live and over 70,000 digital audiences. We were able to tour across England to London, Manchester, Leicester, Portsmouth, and Oxford, offering free and discounted tickets to refugee and asylum-seeking organizations and individuals who were 25 years of age or under. Alongisde the production, we ran an extensive communnity programme throughout the tour which included providing guest slots as part of the performance for 22 musicians from the local communities, schools and relaxed performances, food served from a local refugee community kitchen, digital talks and a travelling Dido’s bar which toured Newham throughout summer 2022 in the run up to the show.

Without your help, none of this would have been possible. We thank you for your generosity!

Lead Production Supporters
Rebecca Bennett
Tony Hales
David Isaacs
Stuart & Ellen Lyons
Emma Sharp
Caleb Wright

Production Supporters
Feras Al-Chalabi
Esther and Al Bannister
Helen Burrows
Kate Beswick
Julian and Ann Dawes
Joanne Edelman and Tony Klug
Deborah Hinton
Henry King
Alan Leibowitz
David Richardson
Anne Sebba
Ruth Walton
Plus the many other generous individuals who were part of our Dido's Bar Individual Giving Circle.