Each weekend, the economic migrants in Calais are treated to “dance parties” in a custom built “theatre” courtesy British “open borders” activists.

The venue – a dome-shaped tent called the Good Chance Theatre – was erected by activists in October, and again on the 30^th September. It joins the shops, Afghan cafe, bars serving cheap beer and cinema that now make up the burgeoning “Jungle” shantytown in northern France.

The theatre-cum-nightclub was founded by British playwrights Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson, who plan on coaching migrants to stage weekly productions there, as well as hosting touring productions by theatre companies and artists from around the world.

Speaking to The Stage, Murphy said he and Robertson had initially just wanted to perform for the migrants, but decided to create a “safe place” for them to have a good time, too.

He added: “We say it’s a theatre, and it is, but it performs many functions really. It’s across all art forms, it’s a meeting place – a townhall-cum-theatre – and it’s a really exciting and loved place to be in the camp here.”