THE transatlantic slave trade and the plight of enslaved Africans throughout history might seem a million miles away from Oxford.

But a group of young actors from the city are out to demonstrate just how the African story relates to people today.

Journeys to Freedom, a nine-part cycle of half-hour plays, is the most ambitious project Pegasus Theatre, in Magdalen Road, East Oxford, has ever undertaken.

Head of education at the theatre, Yasmin Sidhwa, said: "We are trying to celebrate black history and black culture. And we have tried to make it so that if you come in and see one performance, you get a sense of the whole cycle."

In total, 140 people will be acting in the shows, which will run between Tuesday, March 25, and Saturday, March 29, with about a dozen people working behind the scenes and 24 artists working with the different groups.

Each night, three half-hour sections will be shown, with the first three shows linking together to reach a grand finale joining Oxford and Timbuktu, featuring 65 people on stage at the same time.

The cycle will be repeated twice, with the first running from Tuesday to Thursday, and the second on Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening.

And between the two Saturday shows, an African fair, offering food and drink and crafts, will be in the theatre so people can make a day of it.

The theatre is appealing for cushions and pillows in African colours to help deck out the hall, and a white suit for a 'Colonel Sanders' character is also needed.

Anyone who is able to help, can contact the box office on 01865 722851.

Some of the shows have already sold out, so anyone wanting to attend is asked to call the number above as soon as possible.