Newcastle theatre to host real stories of refugees
The real stories of people arriving in the UK will be told on a Newcastle stage - as Northern Stage theatre host a touring play, featuring a cast of refugees
Last updated 7th Sep 2022
The real stories of people arriving in the UK will be told on a Newcastle stage - as Northern Stage theatre host a touring play, featuring a cast of refugees
All The Beds I Have Slept In - is created by Phosphoros Theatre - and features actors who've come from Ethiopia, Syria, Sudan, Morocco, Eritrea and Afghanistan.
Phosphoros Theatre says 'It recalls the hundreds of beds the actors have slept in on their journeys from their homelands to seek asylum in the UK.
'From a flat in North London to a Greek detention centre, supposed spaces of safety become transient; shelters are taken away without notice; and the route from one place to the next is fraught with obstacles,
'The play is a shout-out to all the real people who kept the actors moving forward.
'It explores the hidden moments of hospitality that change the course of a journey and how to repay them, using Phosphoros’ trademark wit and energy to reveal the intimacy created between friends when family is absent, and how to stay hopeful in a world that isn’t fair.'
Syed came to the UK from Afghanistan as an unaccompanied minor - and is now an actor, activist and engineering student,
He tells us there are so many stories the public miss out on learning due to tabloid coverage:
"People should know about the stories of refugees, at the moment, the main source which tells us about refugees is the mainstream media, and unfortunately, that's not a good representation of the community.
"People look at a mainstream media story and that's all they know about refugees and asylum seekers and people like me.
"Challenging that and telling people - this is who I am - not what you see in the news...
"Refugees are normal people like everyone else, we have ambitions, we have hopes, we have dreams and we work hard to get to those, like everyone else."
All The Beds I Have Slept In is on at Newcastle's Northern Stage theatre on the 8th and 9th of September.
"We have ambitions, we have hopes, we have dreams and we work hard to get to those, like everyone else."
It comes as The UN refugee agency's told the High Court the government's Rwanda policy is 'incompatible with UK's fundamental obligations'.
Charities and unions are among those taking legal action over the plan to deport some asylum seekers to the central African country.
This week Suella Braverman has replaced former Home Secretary Priti Patel, and questions are being raised over the future of the UK's immigration bill, which means there is no safe and legal route for people fleeing persecution to enter the UK.
Syed tells us he hopes a new government will be less hostile to the desperate people trying to reach safety;
"There are many people like me out there, who are desperate for the opportunity, and desperate to be granted refugee status,
"Which means they can think about their future, they can plan their future - they can work as normal, study as normal - and at the end of the day that will benefit this country.
"As someone who has been through the system and seen so much of it - and so much of it being so hostile I can't even describe...
"I would like to see a fair system that provides opportunities for people like myself to thrive."
You can find out more about Phosphoros Theatre through their website, and Northern Stage.