A female and male performer with their arms almost touching each with one foot inside two separate open cages. One performer is looking through her cage, and the other perfomer is looking at her.

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Journey of a Refugee

Part of This is Croydon, London Borough of Culture 2024

A powerful and moving theatre production that explores the journey and arrival of a refugee and the universal theme of people searching for a place they can call home.

Journey of a Refugee will be a beautiful blend of puppetry and performance for both school and family audiences and will be supported by a comprehensive workshop programme.

“Unmissable! Vibrant, Sensory, Emotional

★★★★★ Everything Theatre

Theatre-Rites with Agudo Dance Company are creating an exciting new production as part of London Borough of Culture in Croydon. This production is inspired by Theatre-Rites’ acclaimed site-specific show The Welcoming Party (originally co-produced with Manchester International Festival, Z-arts and the Ruhrtriennale Festival).

Performances at Stanley Arts Centre 3 – 18 February 2024.

Cast

Creative Team

Sue Buckmaster

Director

Four performers are in a cage lit with a beautiful orange vibrant light. One performer is facing the audience looking at one of the performers on either side of her. We cannot see the faces of the other performers.One performer is crouching down in the middle.
“ Powerful and stunning. A must see piece of theatre. ”
Star rating: 5 stars
Adventures in Theatreland
“ Gorgeous, politcally engaged and beautifully crafted show ”
Star rating: 4.5 stars
The Reviews Hub
“ Unmissable! Vibrant, Sensory, Emotional ”
Star rating: 5 stars
Everything Theatre

Performance Dates

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February 2024

Four performers are standing looking out towards the audience. Behind them, there are wooden crates and chairs covered in plastic sheeting, almost as if they are in the building site. One performer is centre of the picture with his hand out, talking to the audience. The other three circle him from behind, looking at him.

© Ali Wright

A staging of a scene at sea. A performer is in a lifeboat full of orange vests representing people. He holds a torch looking for an inflatable puppet of a swimming man lost in the sea manipulated by two performers. Thin plastic represents the sea.

© Ali Wright

Four performers stand with their backs to the audience, tugging on a large grey curtain as if to pull it down. You can just see the words UK asylum system shining through behind the grey curtain and at the bottom of the curtain you can also see a little bit of red fabric

©Ali Wright

On top of a large wooden crate are cardboard boxes that have been made to look like high-rise buildings with cut out windows and lights inside. Below this a performer holds a toy truck which she is moving across a bench drapped in fabric

©Ali Wright

Four performers are in a cage lit with a beautiful orange vibrant light. One performer is facing the audience looking at one of the performers on either side of her. We cannot see the faces of the other performers.One performer is crouching down in the middle.

©Ali Wright

Two performers crouch down in the middle of the scene holding onto each other. On either side of them are two other performers, each holding large structures made of plastic which they are moving through the air.

©Ali Wright

The scene is bathed in a blue light. There are two performers, crouching down inside tent like structures made from blue taurpaulin. in the background you can see a crate with doors painted with a Union Jack.

©Ali Wright

A life-size puppet of a mother, dressed in traditional orange and blue. Sudanese clothing holds her hand out to performer who clasps her hand to his chest. They are looking into each other's eyes. The puppet is manipulated by two other performers.

©Ali Wright

A closed cage in the background full of plastic. Hanging on the outside of the cage are hardhats and orange lifejackets. At the front of the image, a dancer is kneeling down and moving backwards holding one of the lifejackets. Behind her is another performer with arms at stretched, ready to catch a lifejacket, gently moving backwards.

@Ali Wright

Large open cages are connected to each other and look like a maze. the cages are on wheels and one performer is crouching down as if in movement, holding on to one side. In the distance, you can see two other performers moving through the space and one is also holding on another side of the cage.

©Ali Wright

In the middle of a dark space there is a closed cage lit from inside. A performer is in the cage with his arms out stretched. On either side of the cage are two performers looking in towards the cage.
A female and male performer with their arms almost touching each with one foot inside two separate open cages. One performer is looking through her cage, and the other perfomer is looking at her.

©Ali Wright

A dancer bends backwards bathed in blue light. His arms are outstretched, and behind him another dancer, kneeling on the ground is holding his head

©Ali Wright

Previous Slide
Next Slide
Four performers are standing looking out towards the audience. Behind them, there are wooden crates and chairs covered in plastic sheeting, almost as if they are in the building site. One performer is centre of the picture with his hand out, talking to the audience. The other three circle him from behind, looking at him.
A staging of a scene at sea. A performer is in a lifeboat full of orange vests representing people. He holds a torch looking for an inflatable puppet of a swimming man lost in the sea manipulated by two performers. Thin plastic represents the sea.
Four performers stand with their backs to the audience, tugging on a large grey curtain as if to pull it down. You can just see the words UK asylum system shining through behind the grey curtain and at the bottom of the curtain you can also see a little bit of red fabric
On top of a large wooden crate are cardboard boxes that have been made to look like high-rise buildings with cut out windows and lights inside. Below this a performer holds a toy truck which she is moving across a bench drapped in fabric
Four performers are in a cage lit with a beautiful orange vibrant light. One performer is facing the audience looking at one of the performers on either side of her. We cannot see the faces of the other performers.One performer is crouching down in the middle.
Two performers crouch down in the middle of the scene holding onto each other. On either side of them are two other performers, each holding large structures made of plastic which they are moving through the air.
The scene is bathed in a blue light. There are two performers, crouching down inside tent like structures made from blue taurpaulin. in the background you can see a crate with doors painted with a Union Jack.
A life-size puppet of a mother, dressed in traditional orange and blue. Sudanese clothing holds her hand out to performer who clasps her hand to his chest. They are looking into each other's eyes. The puppet is manipulated by two other performers.
A closed cage in the background full of plastic. Hanging on the outside of the cage are hardhats and orange lifejackets. At the front of the image, a dancer is kneeling down and moving backwards holding one of the lifejackets. Behind her is another performer with arms at stretched, ready to catch a lifejacket, gently moving backwards.
Large open cages are connected to each other and look like a maze. the cages are on wheels and one performer is crouching down as if in movement, holding on to one side. In the distance, you can see two other performers moving through the space and one is also holding on another side of the cage.
In the middle of a dark space there is a closed cage lit from inside. A performer is in the cage with his arms out stretched. On either side of the cage are two performers looking in towards the cage.
A female and male performer with their arms almost touching each with one foot inside two separate open cages. One performer is looking through her cage, and the other perfomer is looking at her.
A dancer bends backwards bathed in blue light. His arms are outstretched, and behind him another dancer, kneeling on the ground is holding his head
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Next Slide
“ Theatre-Rites, a company of genuine originality and flair ”

The Guardian

“ Who says that theatre for the very young can’t be great art? Not me, and certainly not Theatre-Rites, who have been creating shows as good as anything made for adult audiences for more than 20 years ”

Lyn Gardner, The Guardian
“ Why does children’s theatre have such a bad name? One reason could be that not enough people know the work of Theatre-Rites. Their new touring show is one of the best times I’ve had in a theatre all year. ”

The Times on Mischief
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