Contained

The refugee ‘crisis’ of 2016 put human migration at the centre of public debates. As more asylum seekers arrived in Europe, political and media stories did not quite match the reality on the ground. Despite common assumptions, 97% of the world’s population does not migrate. The overwhelming majority of those that do, stay within their home region.

CONTAINED looked at the gaps between migrant experiences and popular opinion. It explored wide-held ideas and beliefs about migration. Performances stirred debate and got people to question their views. These offered a strong base to learn, discuss, empathise and question.

With researcher Marieke van Houte we created a multi-disciplinary approach. Inspired by migrant’s stories from around the world, three elements were developed to create most impact:

Experience
Audience experience through participatory, immersive and physical theatre. Part 1. Passers-by being asked to imagine what a decision to leave home would mean to them. Part 2. Choosing audience members through an opaque selection process. Part 3. Staged performance, based on the play Pecking Order by Joakim Daun, using the migration of birds as a metaphor.

Research
Presenting talks and debates about migration issues. Offering information and fact sheets alongside events.

Creative learning
Offering creative learning opportunities through texts, workshops and audio/visual projects.

“the cast’s backgrounds in theatre, physical theatre and dance are betrayed in how wonderful they are to watch.” Daily Info

You can find full details of the project through the website links below. If you’re interested in any elements of contained, get in touch.