Vita Nova, a community theatre group for those in recovery from addiction has teamed up with the ESOL department at Bournemouth and Poole College to rehearse and present Refugee Nativity.

College tutor, Claire Armstrong, introduced her students to Vita Nova and will also be performing in the play. Claire set up ‘Increase the Peace’, a project supporting local homeless and refugee charities and it is to this organisation that all proceeds from the performances will be donated.

Claire commented: “Vita Nova continues to make stimulating theatre which addresses the challenges faced by the community and the world at large.”

Dr Sharon Coyne, artistic director and writer of the new piece wanted to create and share something that was relevant and important.

Refugee Nativity is very much an integrated arts project, which brings communities together and raises awareness of the current refugee crisis. Vita Nova aims to remind everyone of the true meaning of Christmas, a time of hope, rebirth, and love. Some of the people the community theatre will be working with have, at times, lost hope. They have struggled to find a safe, new home, and others have been challenged by addiction.

For this project Vita Nova will be working with Jon Nicholas an actor-director and playwright who has worked with drama in places of conflict. Jon stated that the making of the piece has “…not been an easy process, ten nationalities are taking part, everybody is learning and challenging themselves, and everyday proving that cooperation is always possible.”

Performance dates 16 & 17 December at 7pm at Corpus Christi Parish Hall, Bournemouth, BH5 2BX. Suitable for 8 years upwards. Tickets available at: https://refugeenativityvitanova.eventbrite.co.uk

For more information contact office@vitanova.co.uk or leave a message at 01202 309999.