A PLAY focusing on the experiences of two young asylum seekers is to be staged at Pegasus Theatre in East Oxford.

Night Light has been commissioned by Mandala Theatre, a new Oxford-based company.

It is written by award-winning playwright Nadia Davids and directed by Mandala’s artistic director Yasmin Sidhwa, formerly creative learning director at Pegasus Theatre.

Ms Sidhwa said the play highlighted the situation faced by young people arriving in England seeking asylum, and what happened to them when they turned 18.

Ms Sidhwa added: "The plight of young people seeking asylum has been brought into sharp relief in today’s political climate.

"They have no family and their homes have been destroyed.

"They have been housed and cared for in Britain, but at 18 they can be kicked out with nowhere to go."

The Mandala team has talked to and run workshops with refugees and asylum seekers in Oxford, and their experiences have informed the play.

They will also be involved in feedback after the show.

Ms Sidhwa added: "One young refugee said: 'These are our lives and we want people to know about this'."

Night Light is also part of Shakespeare Oxford 2016 Festival – it’s theme of displacement ties in with Shakespeare’s play Pericles.

As part of the programme, drama lovers are invited to a free rehearsal of Night Light at Kennington Library and Village Hall on Tuesday, between noon and 7pm.

The play will be staged at Pegasus Theatre on Thursday, September 29 and Friday, September 30 at 7.30pm and there will be a debate after the performance on Thursday.

Then the play will be taken on a national tour.

For further information visit pegasustheatre.org.uk or call 01865 812150.