The news has been inundated with horrifying stories about the refugee crisis over the past couple of years. It has been hard to ignore the shocking images of the lifeless bodies of small children washing up on the shores of Europe, as families risk their lives to travel thousands of miles in flimsy boats with the desperate dream of living in a safer country.

As a result, many theatres are exploring what it means to be a refugee in their latest shows, in a bid to highlight a crisis that has been going on for a long time.

Chickenshed’s latest production Refugee Boy is a moving story based on British Jamaican poet Benjamin Zephaniah’s hugely acclaimed book.

The story follows the life of 14-year-old Alem, a refugee who is forced to flee his family and country for London in the late 1990s in order to escape civil war at home in the disputed region between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

As a child of parents from both regions, Alem is in great danger from the forces of both sides, and is forced to seek safety alone in the UK.

Chickenshed’s play, which has been adapted for the stage by Lemn Sissay, follows Alem’s experiences in London in a “warm-hearted” tale of hope, family and identity.

For Alem, the challenge is fitting in and growing up in a country very different from his own, and being there without the family he loves- much like those who are now risking their lives to travelling from countries such as Syria and Iraq to try and build a new life in England.

Refugee Boy continues Chickenshed’s exploration of the issues surrounding refugees and immigration, as recently examined in their sell-out run of Kindertransport, which explored the lives of the children who were evacuated to safer homes during World War Two.

Benjamin Zephaniah has featured in The Times list of Britain's top 50 post-war writers and Refugee Boy is a powerful and moving story based on his acclaimed book.

Alem’s experiences are filled with hope, family and identity, as he tackles the challenge of trying to fit in and grow up in a country very different from his own, and being there without the family he loves.

Chickenshed and the cast of Refugee Boy will also be hosting panel discussions with representation from the Refugee Council, World Jewish Relief and other interested parties, to explore the subject further.

Refugee Boy, Chickenshed Theatre, Chase Side, Southgate, N14 4PE, Wednesday, April 19, to Saturday, May 13, 7.30pm, details: 020 8292 9222, chickenshed.org.uk