Sanctuary
Sanctuary is a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, performing at Pleasance Dome. It has 26 performances listed, running from Wed 5 Aug, 16:00 to Mon 31 Aug, 16:00. The run has finished — every listed performance has taken place.
About this show
Award-winning actors Matthew Tennyson and Richard Cant will star in the world premiere of Sanctuary, the debut play by Jacob Sparrow and winner of the inaugural Leodis Prize. Directed by Josh Seymour, the reflective and time-shifting drama is inspired by real events in a Suffolk village, where plans to open an AIDS hospice in the early 1990s were met with local resistance. Sanctuary explores memory, belonging and community as past and present intertwine when one man is forced to confront memories he has long suppressed.
Details
- Venue: Pleasance Dome
- Space: Ace Dome
- Genre: THEATRE, Drama, LGBTQ+
- Country: UNITED KINGDOM - ENGLAND
- Running time: 60 minutes
- Room size: about 115 seats (Ace Dome) — the Fringe box office sells a share of the room, not all of it
- Performances listed: 26, of which 0 still to come and on sale
Accessibility
- Wheelchair access: ramp
- Access features: Step-free access, Accessible toilet, Hearing loop
- Venue notes: Accessible entry: Main queue at entrance to venue. Access to space via locked lift, please notify the venue ahead of your visit if you require use of the lift and ask at the box office upon arrival for access. Lift dimensions 2400mm x 1600mm max. weight 200kg. Performance space is on First floor up a permanent stone staircase. Wheelchair access type:Temporary Ramp, Lift (Building Lift) Stairs: 11- 20 Number of stairs is provided as guidance and is not in addition to any wheelchair access type (lift/ramp etc) stated above.
What the reviewers said
We have captured 10 published reviews and 31 audience reviews for this show from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe’s own listing. The excerpts below are the reviewers’ words, not ours — follow each link for the full review.
Casting director turned first time play write Jacob Sparrow debuts ‘Sanctuary’ at the Fringe this year. “Sanctuary” transports us to a Suffolk village in the 90’s where Mary (unseen) dreams of converting her barn into…
Sanctuary, a debut play by Jacob Sparrow, is a beautiful exploration of loneliness, memory and community. Inspired by real events, Sanctuary follows Michael in conversations with an older gay man as he waits to hear…
Fine acting, pitch perfect direction and a wonderful script - I wholeheartedly recommend this.
— UK Theatre Web (5 out of 5 stars)
Performance dates and ticket availability
- Wed 5 Aug, 16:00 — Already performed — £8.00
- Thu 6 Aug, 16:00 — Already performed — £8.00
- Fri 7 Aug, 16:00 — Already performed — £14.00
- Sat 8 Aug, 16:00 — Already performed — £14.00
- Sun 9 Aug, 16:00 — Already performed — £14.00
- Mon 10 Aug, 16:00 — Already performed — £14.00
- Tue 11 Aug, 16:00 — Already performed — £14.00
- Wed 12 Aug, 16:00 — Already performed — £12.00
- Thu 13 Aug, 16:00 — Already performed — £12.00
- Fri 14 Aug, 16:00 — Already performed — £14.00
- Sat 15 Aug, 16:00 — Already performed — £14.00
- Sun 16 Aug, 16:00 — Already performed — £14.00
- Tue 18 Aug, 16:00 — Already performed — £12.00
- Wed 19 Aug, 16:00 — Already performed — £12.00
- Thu 20 Aug, 16:00 — Already performed — £12.00
- Fri 21 Aug, 16:00 — Already performed — £14.00
- Sat 22 Aug, 16:00 — Already performed — £14.00
- Sun 23 Aug, 16:00 — Already performed — £14.00
- Mon 24 Aug, 16:00 — Already performed — £12.00
- Tue 25 Aug, 16:00 — Already performed — £12.00
- Wed 26 Aug, 16:00 — Already performed — £12.00
- Thu 27 Aug, 16:00 — Already performed — £12.00
- Fri 28 Aug, 16:00 — Already performed — £14.00
- Sat 29 Aug, 16:00 — Already performed — £14.00
- Sun 30 Aug, 16:00 — Already performed — £14.00
- Mon 31 Aug, 16:00 — Already performed — £12.00