A MEETING of minds helped produce a cross-cultural fusion of poetry, theatre and dance for an event staged by the Ashmolean Museum.

Exiled Iraqi poet Adnan al-Sayegh and Iraqi actress Ahlam Arab worked with creative professionals in the county to produce theatre show Who Can Climb the Sky inspired by poetry project Writing Mesopotamia

The show was performed at museum in Oxford on Sunday as part of an event aimed at fostering cross-cultural friendships.

Oxford poet Jenny Lewis was among the team who set up the project, funded by Arts Council England.

She said: "We are coming to the end of a very big four year project aiming to foster friendships between English and Arabic-speaking communities.

"It was a fantastic experience and we all feel like a tight knit group now. We obviously perform our poetry but to see our work dramatised in dance was fantastic."

Mr al-Sayegh and Ms Arab worked with Ms Lewis as well as Mandala Theatre Company director Yasmin Sidhwa and Dancin' Oxford choreographer Euton Daley to create a piece that brings all art forms together.

The show was performed to a crowd of people in the the Ashmolean's atrium and the audience lined the staircase and balcony to watch.

It included a moving performance by the East Oxford Youth Choir, lead by soloist Abigail Hawkesworth.

Ms Lewis said: "The atmosphere was amazing.

"East Oxford Youth Choir sang beautifully and when they finished there was a great applause and many people said how it was incredibly moving to hear the words spoken and then sung."

The event concluded with the launch of the Poetry for Peace anthology which has been designed and printed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and which brings together words against war by young people of Oxfordshire.

The anthology was developed from the poetry project and more than sixty children from four Oxford schools – Headington School, Cherwell School, Oxford Spires Academy and Sudanese Saturday School – contributed verses on the theme of heritage and peace.

Some readings were given from young people who have contributed to the anthology, with Arabic versions read by FCO translator Manil Nakli.

All funds raised during the evening will go towards supporting charity Refugee Resource.

There are 20 copies of the anthology available free of charge for Oxford Mail readers on a first come first serve basis from our offices in Osney Mead.