On 23 March 2018, Sanctuary in Chichester is bringing a powerful drama about the challenges of achieving asylum in the UK to West Sussex.

The Bundle is based on the real-life story of Adilah, a lawyer, and her three young children who flee from their abusive home in Chechnya to find safety in Britain. The play follows Adilah as she confronts the Kafkaesque twists and turns of the UK asylum system, giving insights into the inner workings of the Home Office on the way.

“This simple play exposes the complex reasons why people seek asylum – why they want to come to Britain and the minefields they encounter once they get here,” says Roger Pask, Sanctuary in Chichester’s chair.

“It does this in a compelling and moving way, that invites us to draw upon our strengths as human beings to identify with the plight of refugees – and to recognise that each refugee is our neighbour.”

The Bundle is performed – and was researched and written – by the Journeymen Theatre company. Since being commissioned by the Quaker Asylum and Refugee Network, the play has toured across the UK.

The Bundle will be staged at 7.30pm on 23 March at St Paul’s Church, Churchside, Chichester, PO19 6FT. It runs for around 65 minutes and will be followed by a discussion.

The suggested donation for tickets is £5 or £2 for students. They can be ordered in advance from sanctuaryinchichester@gmail.com (donation and collection on the door), or on the door from 7pm on 23 March. They are also available from St Olav Christian Bookshop, 81A North Street, Chichester PO19 1LQ, by cash or a cheque payable to Sanctuary in Chichester.

Proceeds will go to Sanctuary in Chichester and to other UK refugee support groups.