ICE AND FIRE THEATRE

Iceandfire theatre have joined with Amnesty International UK to raise awareness about people who have suffered human rights abuses, both within the UK and abroad, in a series of free performances every Thursday night in September.

Members of iceandfire's Outreach project Actors for Human Rights, will perform rehearsed readings about asylum seekers in the UK, the occupation of Palestine, extraordinary rendition and political prisoners in Burma. Each performance will be followed by a Q&A with the writer, a campaigner from Amnesty International and a person whose story is featured in the play.

The season kicks off with Rendition Monologues on 3 September. Rendition Monologues tells the harrowing first-hand testimonies of victims of the CIA's 'extraordinary rendition' program, which involves the kidnap and transfer of terror suspects to countries that are known to use torture. The play includes the story of Binyam Mohamed, who was recently returned to UK soil from Guantanamo Bay after three and a half years. He has never been charged with a crime.

On 10 September it's Seven Years With Hard Labour, iceandfire's newest outreach play, commissioned by Index on Censorship - a previous winner at the Amnesty Media Awards. This play weaves together four accounts from former Burmese political prisoners now living in the UK. Through their engaging, divergent and often humorous stories, a damning picture of a ruthless military regime is painted.

Palestine Monologues (17 September) includes Palestinian and Israeli voices and explores the day to day experiences of life under occupation. It also highlights turning points individuals have had when they have seen past the dominant and conflicting narratives perpetuating the conflict.

Actors for Human Rights' flagship production, Asylum Monologues, is a first-hand account of the UK's asylum system in the words of people who have experienced it and has been seen by thousands of people across the UK. With personal testimony at its core combined with public opinion, political statements and statistical fact, this production disseminates what it really means to be displaced in the UK.

Lucy and I will most certainly be attending. We hope to see you all there..

Protect the Human.