Students from the BA (Hons) Performing Arts course at Hereford College of Arts have been invited to perform “3000 Chairs – The Day War Came” at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre on February 14 at 7pm, as part of the annual Drama Student Festival.

Originally, the performance was created in collaboration with Open Sky Productions’ director Claire Coaché in response to the poem ‘The Day War Came’ by Nicola Davies. The poem is about a refugee child and the extraordinary power of kindness. The thought-provoking and moving text will be available as a picture book later this year.

Co-director and joint course leader Gillian Hipp said: “I was thrilled when Nicola Davies agreed to share her poem ‘The Day War Came’ with us as a starting point for a physical theatre performance. The entire six-week rehearsal process in preparation for Hay Festival last year was a collaborative one. Nicola Davies joined several of our rehearsals from the outset and her input was so valuable to the students’ experience.”

Claire’s full involvement in the project gave the degree students the opportunity to work with a professional director and pick up performance techniques in the process.

The degree students are now in intensive rehearsals to prepare for their performance at Birmingham Rep; and once again illustrations by Andrew Charles Graham, a graduate from HCA’s BA (Hons) Illustration course, will be seen projected live on stage as he draws them throughout the performance.