Slave-trade play will encourage modern Wilberforces

Horror at the extent of modern slavery and a debt to history have led the Church Mission Society (CMS) to commission a new anti-slavery play to raise public awareness of the issue.

"African Snow" has been written by Murray Watts, the award-winning writer of hit movie "The Miracle Maker".

Riding Lights Theatre Company will perform the play to mark the 200th anniversary of Britain's abolition of the slave trade in 2007.

"African Snow" weaves the story of "Amazing Grace" writer John Newton together with that of black abolitionist Olaudah Equiano, who bought his freedom and became a bestselling author in 18th century Britain.

Explaining why CMS had initiated the project, Head of Communication John Martin said, "We owe a debt to the abolitionists - CMS was founded out of the anti-slavery movement in 1799. William Wilberforce was one of our founding fathers.

"It's time to celebrate their extraordinary campaign and to encourage people to fight modern forms of slavery. There are more slaves in the world today than there were in 1807.

"There is a rising current of public concern to make slavery truly a thing of the past."