62 Gladstone Street presents

in association with Landmark Theatres and THE UPSETTERS

REFUGEE!

a play by Aisha Zia and the company

 
 
 
 
 

Nobody is a nobody. Life just moves.

Hope is hope is hope again. I have a harness.

Refugee.

I have a tightrope.

Refugee.

The stars. The moon. We all have something to play for. The sun. The sea.

You are not my enemy.

Refugee! is a powerful co-creation about survival features a poignant original score, tender movement, words and comedy, with the show’s cast working in collaboration with migrant and refugee communities to showcase their stories.

Weaving together urgent, important interviews, conversations and real-life testimonies from the performers, migrant, refugee and sanctuary seeking communities, this timely new play will embody the vibe and excitement of a nightclub.

Set on an ancient burial ground, where the UK is now a crime scene, Refugee! tells the story of four characters in search of belonging. Under the rubble they find evidence of hope and humanity, as well as traces of violence and despair, and our own government's complicity in war crimes.

Aisha and the company are committed to raising awareness and positivity around the refugee and migrant experience and subverting the current societal discourse around refugees and migrants.

As part of the play, the company will create community-based performances and workshops which will be staged outside of the Peterborough and Edinburgh Fringe performances. The aim of all aspects of the project is to create an archive for future generations; to collect, to document and to recognise that we are here as witnesses.

As part of the play, the company will create community-based performances and workshops which will be staged outside of the Peterborough and Edinburgh Fringe performances. The aim of all aspects of the project is to create an archive for future generations; to collect, to document and to recognise that we are here as witnesses.

 

Listings Information

Key Theatre
Embankment Road, Peterborough, PE1 1EF
Thursday 15 - Saturday 17 August 2024

£12 (£10) | 7:45pm (2:15pm Saturday matinee)
Box Office: 01733 852992

Paines Plough Roundabout Lates
Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, Newington, Edinburgh, EH9 1PL 
Thursday 22 - Sunday 25 August 2024 

£16 (£14) | 23:10 (11:45 Sunday morning)
Box Office: 0131 560 1580

 

R&D Gallery

R&D Trailer

Company Information

Performed by
Elina Akhmetova, Adi Detemo, Sara Diab, Alaa Shehada

Writer
Aisha Zia

Director
Maisie Newman

Associate Director
Neetu Singh

Composer and Sound Designer
Jovana Backovic

Lighting Designer
Gillian Tan

Set and Costume Designer
Charlotte Henery

Choreographer
Seke Chimutengwende

Stage Manager
Jehan Rizqallah

Production Manager
Carrie Croft

Artwork and Photography
Kalpesh Lathigra

Creative Producer
Marcus Berdaut

Communities Producer
Anita Nayyar

Touring Producer
Penny Babakhani

Scotland Producer
Alexandra Lort Phillips

Researcher
Katie Dancey-Downs

Marketing
Rising Agency

PR
SM Publicity

 
 
 

Refugee! is a new theatre project written by Aisha Zia and produced by 62 Gladstone Street in association with Landmark Theatres and THE UPSETTERS and co-commissioned by Counterpoint Arts.

With thanks to all the community participants who were interviewed to be part of the process in Peterborough and Bournemouth, Arts Council England, Metal Peterborough, Refugee Week and our partners Tamasha, the Key Theatre and Selladoor Venues.

Special thank you to community partners supporting migrants & refugees in Peterborough; H.E.L.P, GLADCA and SOS.LT.