A PRIMARY school teacher turned community theatre company director is on a mission to take an interactive Ukrainian folk tale about refugees around the city.

Victoria Jones delivered the production Mitten to Edwards Hall School last week to a young audience and is now applying for funding to tour Southend schools starting in September.

Victoria, who runs Unpuzzled Theatre Company and lives in Westcliff, said: "What has been happening to refugees has troubled me for some time. My grandfather was a refugee in this country, and if he hadn’t been granted asylum here, I wouldn’t be here now.

"I’ve wanted to create something around the subject for some time. Earlier in the year, I was asked to create a family theatre workshop by psychologist Dr Marta Karczewska for a Ukrainian fundraising event at the Dawn Lister Therapy Centre.

"The Mitten was the story proposed. After reading it, I knew it could be adapted into a participatory piece. I received feedback that it could be taken into schools. For this to happen, I knew further development would be needed. We have created an inclusive theatre workshop that explores home, what home means to us and how we would feel if we lost that place of safety and security. We also embed empathy for all refugees that have fled their homes at this time.

" Children do not just sit in the audience and spectate, they are very much part of the show and work with the trained actor facilitators interactively. They become performers. As a primary school teacher, I aim to bridge the considerable gap of lack of creativity children experience in the curriculum.

"We are applying for funding to tour Southend schools starting September 2022. The piece has been well received, and though we originally planned for just a primary school tour, secondary schools have also shown great interest, as well as other youth and community groups."

She added: "I am a primary school teacher at Edwards Hall Primary school and have been for the past five years.

"However, I am leaving teaching to fully establish UTC whilst also working as the LCEP (Local Cultural Education Partnership) coordinator at Southend City Council.

"I want to combine my experience as a theatre practitioner with teaching knowledge and links to the curriculum. Edwards Hall won’t see the last of me, though, as I am setting up an after-school Youth Theatre starting in September. I hope this will be the first of more in schools in Southend."