The three plays of Migrations: Harbour Europe are the result of a Europe-wide call we launched in 2018 in collaboration with LegalAliens Theatre. The aim was to find texts addressing the theme of migration in an original and non cliched manner, avoiding the pitfall, noted by Chimamanda Adichie of “falling for the single story, reducing complex human beings to a single narrative”.
The plays will be presented at the Arcola Theatre, Studio 2 from 1.30pm on the 5th, 6th, 7th of February 2019, directed by Becka McFadden and performed by a multilingual international cast: Luiana Bonfim, Daiva Dominyka, Lara Parmiani, Stelios Trakas.
Every reading will be followed by a Q&A/debate curated by Dr Szabolcs Musca (University of Lisbon/ New Tides Platform UK/ Migrant Dramaturgies Network).
GENESIS
by Chiara Boscaro (Italy)
Translated by Lara Parmiani
DATE: 5th February 2019 @1.30PM VENUE: Arcola Theatre Studio 2, 24 Ashwin St, Dalston, London E8 3DL
A woman arrives in a foreign city. All around her, a language she can’t speak. Unable to give a name to things, she lives on the margins of society. Who is she? A refugee escaping war? Or somebody looking for a better place to bring a new life to the world? A modern morality play with the charm of a fairytale and the depth of an old myth, Chiara Boscaro’s play focuses on language as an empowering tool, helping us delineating the borders of our personal world.
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CHIARA BOSCARO is an Italian playwright whose work has been translated into Catalan, French, English and Finnish. Plays include “07.09.2012”, co-written with Marco De Stefano (PIIGS Selection, Barcelona, 2016), “Bedda Maki” (winner of 2016 Una commedia in cerca d’autori), the international project PENTATEUCO featuring a series of monologues, and “La citta’ che sale”, also co-written with Marco Di Stefano and winner of the 2018 Mario Fratti Award in New York.
The reading will be followed by a Q&A chaired by Dr Bernadette Cochrane (University of Queensland, Australia).
THE SEA IS MY NATION
by Hala Moughanie (Lebanon/France) Translated by Ruth Valentine
DATE: 6th February 2019 @1.30PM VENUE: Arcola Theatre Studio 2 24 Ashwin St, Dalston, London E8 3DL
A man and his wife live in the suburbs of a city full of trash. On hearing “migrants from the war” are arriving, they decide to build a barbwire border around their makeshift property. But the encounter with two migrant women heading to the sea, has a surprising outcome… Funny, surreal and poetic, The sea is my nation is about exile and love, visible borders and invisible fault lines.
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HALA MOUGHANIE was born in Lebanon but migrated to France aged 10. In 2003 she returned to her native country, where she works as a playwright, journalist and teacher. Her writing is focused on exploring the memories and wounds of war. Her first play, Tais-toi et creuse (“Shut up and dig”) was awarded the RFI Theatre Price 2015, selected by the Cross-Chanel Theater (UK) and is currently being translated into English. Her latest play Alma was produced in 2018 as part of Fissures during the Festival des Francophonies en Limousin. In 2018 she was awarded the Prix d’aide à la Création – ArtCena, and the Prix du Quartier des Auteurs du Tarmac.
The reading will be followed by a Q&A chaired by Dr Roxane Paire (France).
CLOSED LANDS by Simon Grangeat (France) Translated by Laure Fernandez
DATE: 7th February 2019 @1.30PM VENUE: Arcola Theatre Studio 2, 24 Ashwin St, Dalston, London E8 3DL
A mix between reportage, traveller’s diary and medieval Passion play, this powerful and evocative ensemble piece traces the history of modern walls – real and metaphorical – drawing progressively closer and more intimate. Is history bound to repeat itself?
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SIMON GRANGEAT is a French playwright whose writing mixes documentary, verbatim and fiction in unique theatrical form. Work includes Du Piment dans les yeux, Une si jolie mariée, Un Cœur Moulinex, Deux pieds demain, Divines désespérances, T.I.N.A. – une brève histoire de la crise, Faut-il désespérer du monde ou mourir en riant? and the collection of plays for young people, Les Méchants. His plays has been widely performed in France at Comédie Française, Collectif À Mots Découverte, Théâtre du Rond-Point, C.D.N and translated into Catalan, English, Spanish, Hungarian and Greek.
The reading will be followed by a debate chaired by Dr Szabolcs Musca (University of Lisbon/ New Tides Platform, UK). Invited speakers: Dr Vicky Angelaki (University of Reading), Dr Graca P. Correa (University of Lisbon), Dr Bernadette Cochrane (University of Queensland, Australia), Dr Alison Jeffers (University of Manchester), and Dr Roxane Paire (Independent scholar, France).
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