14 year-old Alem Kelo does not want to be called ‘refugee boy’. For him, it is a label used to describe the unwanted, burdens and criminals. This tense yet touching drama offers a real insight into the difficulties faced by young migrants. It explores the turmoil of arriving in a new country, not by choice, and the growing uncertainty about where can be called ‘home’.

Refugee Boy is an adaptation of Benjamin Zephaniah’s 2001 novel. Both poet and playwright (Lemn Sissay) know the worlds they write about: Sissay is the son of refugees and Zephaniah left school at 13. The play begins when Alem is sent ‘on holiday’ to the UK. His father fears for his half-Ethiopian, half-Eritrean son when fighting breaks out on the border of those two countries. Alem is sent to a tough children’s home, then a foster family. He must build friendships and navigate the courts. Then, his father returns.

This a superbly staged production. The set consists of staircases of suitcases (a symbol of humans on the move), which the energetic actors race up and down. A six-strong cast play multiple roles with pace and verve. Certain moments of high drama are particularly effective. Flashbacks to the conflict in Africa see the lights dim and a piercing searchlight shine into the audience. The court scenes, meanwhile, powerfully show how Alem feels disorientated and surrounded by suits. At the same time, there are moments of great lyricism. When Alem’s father describes the differences between the stars in England and the stars in Africa, the piece still feels like poetry.

Among the most thought-provoking sections of Refugee Boy are those which consider the pressures on the foster family. The generous Fitzgeralds have housed a string of refugees. They form attachments, treat the new arrivals as families - but cannot stop their deportation.

In short, this is an important and moving 80-minute piece. It was pleasing to see a more diverse Playhouse audience than usual on the opening night. Refugee Boy will appeal to regular theatre-goers, but also to those who would not usually consider going to see a production. The Playhouse should be commended for staging such a humane work on such an important contemporary problem. More on this subject on the next programme, please!