Hamed Amiri was born in Herat, Afghanistan, and grew up under Taliban rule before escaping at the age of ten. He is a motivational speaker and influencer in the education sector, and a board member at Coleg Gwent, Wales. In 2016 he was awarded the Inspiring the Next Generation Award by the University of South Wales for services to education and young people. Inspired by his late brother's passion for positive change in society, Hamed's mission is to share his family's story with a wide audience and change perceptions surrounding refugees and diversity.
Phil Porter is a multi-award-winning playwright and librettist. His work has been produced at Manchester Royal Exchange, Northampton Theatre Royal, The Unicorn Theatre and The Royal Opera House. His plays include Vice Versa (RSC), The Man With The Hammer (Plymouth Theatre Royal), The Christmas Truce (RSC), Blink (Soho/nabokov), The Cracks In My Skin (Manchester Royal Exchange, Bruntwood Award winner) and Stealing Sweets And Punching People (Theatre 503/Off-Broadway). Edits/adaptations include Moliere's The Miser (West End, with Sean Foley), Middleton's A Mad World, My Masters (RSC, with Sean Foley), Shakespeare's The Tempest (RSC/Little Angel) and Janos Hay's The Stonewatcher (National Theatre).