A ground-breaking refugee theatre season taking place in Manchester later this month is proving to be a sell-out success. The Exodus Onstage season is the first theatre festival in the UK to feature work solely made by refugees and asylum seekers. Erin McNeaney, Co-ordinator of the Exodus Programme, said, We have had a very positive response from the refugee communities and local residents. There has been a lot of interest in theatre as a way of expressing their experiences.
Companies taking part include Siyaya, Afrocats (pictured) and iceandfire, whose show Crocodile Seeking Refuge has already sold out at the Royal Exchange. The season is part of a three-year creative programme launched in March 2005 by Community Arts North West, developing refugee arts across Greater Manchester.