In 1807 French prisoners of war from Napoleon’s navy were held on ships in Portsmouth bay. One group of prisoners wrote and performed a historical drama tackling how enslaved people of African descent fought for their freedom on Haiti in 1793. This play is the starting point for a bold new project called Freedom and Revolution which is a collaboration between researchers from the University of Warwick, English Heritage's Shout out Loud project and the National Youth Theatre.

This event will feature the playwright, director and sound artist from the National Youth Theatre, and academics whose research has enabled the amazing stories of the French and French-Caribbean prisoners of war who were held at Portchester to be told to new audiences. Their conversation will offer an insight into the creative process of taking archival material as the basis for a powerful new work of theatre about freedom, race and gender.

Streaming live via YouTube you’ll be able to take part from the comfort of their sofa, whilst still being able to join in the conversation via chat.