During Summer 2010, iceandfire Theatre facilitators Clea Langton and Sally Proctor and Sheffield Council Extended Services Co-ordinator, Rob Creasy worked with young people in the Broomhall community of Sheffield, to devise a new play exploring journeys taken by young refugees seeking sanctuary in the UK and the journeys taken by all young people at this transitional stage of their lives. Using the iceandfire outreach script, Asylum Monologues, as a starting point, the group went on the create their own new play, Come Back To Me. The project was participant led, encouraging the young people to take control of each stage of the theatre making process, from developing the script material to designing the flyers to creating the sound production.

Initial Saturday workshops led by iceandfire allowed the participants to develop theatre-making skills, bond with each other and begin to explore the stories they wanted to tell. During this stage of the project, the group were given opportunities to attend professional theatre productions developing their understanding of theatre craft. This was followed by a two week intensive rehearsal process ending with the launch of the play in schools and community theatres in Sheffield. The launch was attended by a diverse local audiences as well as MP’s, Councillors and Head Teachers and created a great opportunity for these young people to showcase the positive contribution they make to the communities around them.

This project was kindly supported by South Yorkshire Police and Sheffield City Council Extended Services Program.