A devastated country. Food shortages getting worse. Aid workers flying in – and celebrities shedding tears in refugee camps. We all recognise the familiar story of a humanitarian disaster in Africa. But what however if the situation were reversed – and it was Britain who needed aid?

This event uses current research being done at City University into how the media looks at asylum seekers and refugees, and aims to make us all think about our preconceptions about who we should give aid to, and what we think of those forced to leave their homes.

It consists of a short play, ‘Aid Memoir’, which was developed as part of a Royal Court Theatre playwriting group, and it imagines the UK in the grip of a humanitarian disaster, but where African aid workers come to the assistance of British refugees.

Afterwards there will be a panel discussion with the author Dr Glenda Cooper, researchers at City, journalists and aid agencies for you to challenge the issues raised and learn more about our current research.