Phosphoros Theatre began in 2015 in a Supported Housing project for young men who came to the UK as unaccompanied minors as a way for the participants to tell their story. The group has grown over the years and now consists of a core group of refugees and asylum seekers from Albania, Afghanistan, Eritrea and Somalia. Theatre has provided those in the group a way to inform and challenge audience opinions on refugees and asylum seekers, as well as acting as a platform for growth and transformation for its members.

The latest production, Pizza Shop Heroes, has recently toured across the UK and was met with great success;

‘From the backdrop of a pizza shop we embark on a journey across time and continents to explore how they got here, where they’re going and what they’ve learnt along the way. It’s a story of male and cultural identity, of family and fatherhood, a lyrical collage of memories, hopes, dreams and imagined realities. From prisons in Libya and Greece to conversations with absent Mothers to raising the next generation of sons. Powerful, celebratory, affirming, authentic; this is theatre that puts refugees centre stage’

The arts can be a powerful tool for integration and act as an important outlet for those seeking sanctuary. As a tribute to the meaningful work that Phosphoros Theatre does in order to educate audiences and welcome asylum seekers and refugees, the group received a Theatre of Sanctuary award in Nottingham during Refugee Week 2019. Information on the company and details of upcoming shows can be found on their website.