The Rose Theatre Cafe will host a unique tapestry exhibition, created by Ukrainian women living in the UK and across Europe.

More than 170 individuals contributed to the tapestries on display in the exhibition "The Flowers We Give To Ukraine" which began life as a community integration project developed by local curator and educator, Magdalena Glowacka. 

Following the invasion of Ukraine, Magdalena started a support group for Ukrainian women at Baking Ideas, Tolworth station, called Ariadne's Thread.

The first meeting took place on International Women's Day. Since then, every week, the group has engaged in traditional crafts with the goal of preserving cultural heritage and providing a therapeutic and social outlet to those displaced by the conflict.

The unveiling of the tapestries coincides with the Rose Theatre's production, The Boy At The Back of The Class, which is based on the award-winning book by Onjali Q. Raúf about a young refugee's experience of being in a new country.   

More than 170 individuals contributed to the tapestries on display in the exhibition 'The Flowers We Give To Ukraine' (credit: Rose Theatre Cafe).

What began as participatory needlework for local Ukrainian women, the tapestries began to come to life, including those arriving under the 'Homes for Ukraine' scheme. 

However, it quickly became a broader collaboration with refugees stitching smaller pieces from across Europe and with Uckfield and Canterbury joining the Kingston group.

The exhibition private view is on Friday, 23 February 1-3pm (credit: Rose Theatre Cafe).

To help the integration of new arrivals, the Kingston group hosted open events and embroidery workshops for all ages and abilities. In total five tapestries were created in different locations.

Every tapestry is unique and tailored to each group.  

A Private View will take place on Friday 23rd February from 1pm to 3pm.

Groups involved in the project from Uckfield and Canterbury will be visiting the exhibition and there will be special performances by Canterbury 4 Ukraine Ladies Choir and Iryna Andriyenko on violin and from soprano, Tamara Ravenhill.