phosphoros young company
“I feel a sense of belonging with you guys, I feel like there is so much that we share in common... Drama is a place that you can go and feel safe and secure... you’ll have a fun time with us. ”
Phosphoros Young Company is a weekly drama group for refugee young people aged 16-21. Some of our members came to the UK as unaccompanied minors (without their families), and some of our members live with their parents or other family members.
Our group is led by our creative team of experienced theatre practitioners, including Sara and Abel, who came to the UK as refugee teenager.
For us, theatre is a space of welcome. We create new performances, develop creative skills and make friends with other newly arrived young people living in London. We tell stories and use drama to help navigate their place in a new community, and this helps our group have feelings of creativity, bravery and belonging.
Phosphoros Young Company meets on Mondays from 5.30-7.30pm at Roundhouse Chalk Farm Road, London, NW1 8EH. To join us, please email kate@phosphorostheatre.com or message 07307 899428. Our members are refugee young people aged 16-21, any gender, any language level, any immigration status.
Phosphoros Young Company in action
Why Young Company is important to me…
I first joined Phosphoros Young Company when I was very new to the UK - I’d only been in London for a couple of months. I’d never done any acting before, and English is my fourth language so I thought it would be very difficult. I was nervous when I went to my first session, but now I feel like I’m with friends and family. I’m still with them after more than two years, so that means it’s good!
I have learnt different creative skills like comedy, animation and playing different characters. We work as a team and use our imagination to create scenes and stories, and it’s so cool to see our ideas become performances. I’ve performed in two shows with Young Company and we are going to start working on a new one soon. I’m known in the group for making everyone laugh, especially when I’m playing very serious or scary characters different to myself - it surprises them!
The biggest thing I have gained from Young Company is confidence in myself. My English isn’t perfect but now when I make a mistake I don’t care because I do it with confidence! I share this advice with new members to our group so they feel proud of speaking different languages too. I think being part of Phosphoros has been the number one biggest help for my English.
As well as support with acting the team have helped me with other stuff, giving advice about my education and goals. I have joined Phosphoros’ leadership training too, and soon I will help the team run workshops for refugee young people, so I will support others like me. I’m also one of the actors in ‘Tender’, and this will be my first professional acting experience. I’m a bit nervous but am excited to work with my friends and the team!
I would say to people who want to join Young Company, just try it! You will learn creative skills, make friends and learn about yourself.
- Ibrahim