STAND And Be Counted, the first British theatre company of Sanctuary, will present a wild and vivid vision of the future, combining storytelling, movement and live music, at the York Theatre Royal Studio on September 15.

In this touring show, five performers from across the globe challenge existing notions of "home" in a multilingual celebration of personal identity.

The production will open at Cast in Doncaster on September 13 and 14 and has further Yorkshire shows in Halifax, Leeds (Carriageworks Theatre, October 6), Sheffield and Bradford.

Where We Began centres around Tafadzwa Muchenje, a performer and dancer born in Zimbabwe, who Stand And Be Counted are supporting with a Home Office appeal to stay in the UK. Tafadzwa, who is known as Taf, will be joined by three international artists: Brazilian writer and performer Gaël Le Cornec, Persian-British actor Shireen Farkhoy and Greek physical performer and singer Zoe Katsilerou, each portraying their autobiographical accounts of displacement that explore the free movement of people.

Completing the cast will be Rosie MacPherson, Stand And Be Counted's artistic director, who says: "Where We Began is our biggest collaboration to date, taking our work to a new level with a multi-skilled cast from across the world.

"Taf came to see our production of Tanja in London in 2016 and was visibly affected during and after the performance. We met with him the following day and discovered the reason for his distress lay in his struggles to remain in the UK and fight for his citizenship."

Taf was born in Zimbabwe and brought up in South Africa from the age of six months to ten years old. From there, he and his family moved to Britain on a Highly Skilled Migrant Visa (dependent, Tier 1), but since turning 21 he has been faced with deportment, meaning separation from his family, partner and friends.

The Home Office wants Taf to return to his place of birth, Zimbabwe, but he has no family, friends or links there. Although his appeal has been accepted, it is still in progress and while so, he is unable to work, continue his studies or hold a passport or travel.

"As a result, he draws deeply on his own experiences and situation in the role he plays in Where We Began," says Rosie, who has written the devised script, directed by Hannah Butterfield.

Stand And Be Counted is run by MacPherson, Butterfield and producer by John Tomlinson, a name familiar to the York theatre scene as an associate producer at York Theatre Royal, where he programmes the Studio seasons.

"Stand And Be Counted are the UK's first theatre of Sanctuary – alongside Theatres of Sanctuary: The Young Vic and West Yorkshire Playhouse – and we're committed to making work with, about and for those seeking sanctuary in the UK and internationally," says John.

"Where We Began's 24-night tour follows hot on the heels of a summer of major collaborations for SBC, beginning with Refugee Weekin June, when we shared performances of Where We Began at Theatre Deli, Sheffield, as part of Migration Matters Festival, and at Bradford's Theatre in the Mill.

"In July, we mentored and developed a piece with Leeds Beckett University performing arts students to present Manifesto Move!, an explosion of movement, live music and spoken word that celebrated the free movement of people, cross-cultural encounters and community at Latitude Festival in the Faraway Forest."

Where We Began is funded by Arts Council England, commissioned by Camden People’s Theatre, Cast and Theatre in the Mill and supported by the Bridging The Gap touring scheme.

Tickets for September 15's 7.45pm performance can be booked on 01904 623568 or at yorktheatreroyal,co.uk.

Charles Hutchinson