Two Channel 4 documentaries presented evidence that war crimes took place at the end of the Sri Lankan civil war in 2009. Now ice&fire, “exploring human rights stories through performance”, has picked up the issue and is preparing a play about the grim events.

British journalist Frances Harrison has spent a year tracking down and interviewing survivors for a book, to be published soon. Many of the survivors watched their family members die, but could do nothing but run. Harrison’s interviews will form the basis of a “very ambitious” production and the group aim to have the first draft of the script completed by autumn 2012.

“In essence, we are seeking to create a large-scale production which will move, challenge and shock audiences and shed some much needed light on an appalling chapter in our recent history that has largely been ignored by most of the world,” they say.

ice&fire are still collecting testimonies and information, and ask anyone who might be able to help to contact them at actors@iceandfire.co.uk

+ Channel 4’s Sri Lanka’s killing fields

+ OneWorld’s London events page

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