American and British actors are working together to raise awareness of human trafficking through a dramatic stage reading and discussion groups.

The actors from Florida, Miami, Southampton and Kingston universities performed the play, called Body and Sold by Deborah Fortson, at the Rose Theatre on July 8.

Based on the transcripts of young exploited victims the reading confronts the practises of trafficking human beings for sex and slave work and warns people how easily people fall prey to the trade.

The event started with an open discussion led by experienced panel members covering all aspects of the trade including drugs and crime.

The performance has now been heard in Florida, Southampton, Kingston and Belgrade, where the audience was 130 delegates at the Helsinki Commission on European Security and Human Trafficking.

The performers hope to continue to spread their message and have plans to travel to Brazil and China.

The performance in Kingston is part of the International Youth Arts Festival, which encourages young people to express themselves through the arts.

The festival, organised by Creative Youth, has 2,000 performers from home and abroad taking part in 200 productions for people to enjoy from July 1 to 18.