YOUNG actors and dancers from as far afield as Iraq and Thailand are to descend on Oxford for an international youth arts festival.

It is the second year that East Oxford theatre Pegasus has hosted the Mesh festival, bringing theatre and dance groups from all over the world to perform alongside young people from Oxfordshire.

When it took place last year, it was the first event of its kind, but it inspired youngsters to plan events in Ramallah in Palestine and Croatia.

Mesh director Yasmin Sidhwa said: “More companies are approaching us about wanting to be involved and we actually had to turn down groups from Sweden and France because we have a finite number of spaces, because fundraising is so hard.

“It’s really exciting that people are actively seeking us out.”

Pegasus and the North Wall Arts Centre will host the festival from July 20 to July 28, with performances by groups from Oxford’s twin towns: Grenoble in France, Leiden in the Netherlands; Bonn in Germany; and Perm in Russia – as well as Sisak in Croatia, Baghdad in Iraq, Pathum Thani in Thailand, a group from Leeds and Pegasus’s own theatre and dance companies.

One of the groups taking part is Voices of Baghdad, created with Teatro di Nascosto, worked with ex-soldiers, civilians, Christians and Muslims to create a performance using the young people’s own experiences of living and growing up with war.

Another, the Thai group Moradokmai Theatre Troupe, was set up through a Buddhist community centred on arts as a means of communication, but it has been struggling since its premises were destroyed in a tsunami last year.

The festival also shows the development of some of those that were involved last year.

Raymond Pelekamoyo will return with his own group, Leeds-based The Dance Company, after performing last year as part of Pegasus Youth Theatre Companies.

Mahmoud AlBalawi, from Gaza, who appeared at last year’s event with a group from Ramallah, has been working with the theatre to help prepare for the festival thanks to a funded placement.

Ms Sidhwa said: “The young people here are very involved and really excited because it's such a mix of cultures.

“The more they feel they run it, the more they are excited to see it happen and be part of it.”

The youth committee has been involved in everything from helping identify groups to take part, to making grant applications and fundraising.

For a full programme of events, including a finale performance including each of the groups along with a grand debate, visit pegasustheatre.org.uk Tickets cost £7 for each event and are available online or by calling 01865 812150 or 01865 319450.

  • Pegasus still needs to raise about £7,500 of its £60,000 budget. Anyone who can help is asked to email dominique.cadiou@pegasustheatre. org.uk