lives in translation

Written By: Rosemary Jenkinson
Directed By: Paula McFetridge 
Production Premiere: October 2017

Lives in Translation is a powerful production that celebrates the human survival instinct through the story of one woman; who in fleeing the conflict of her home becomes trapped in a different form of struggle.  She is trapped within the suffocating bureaucracy surrounding immigration.

Written by Rosemary Jenkinson and based on interviews with female Somali refugees and asylum seekers, local support workers, and community organisations; this poignant drama explores how recent migrants are forced to navigate support systems through translation. 

Lives in Translation highlights how dis-empowering and frustrating this system can be, and ultimately how time is controlled most by those it affects least.

The story follows Asha’s ten-year journey through Mogadishu, Dublin, Belfast and London, as she fights for a life free from constant fear and a place to make home.

The premiere was staged in an old warehouse full of container lorries, it was re-imagined for a series of performances in regional courthouses and finally revived for touring to theatres.

  • ‘This important issue is presented by Kabosh in mixed-media documentary style, sensitively directed by Paula McFetridge’

    THE STAGE

  • ‘Theatre can confront audiences with stories and people that they would normally not hear or see’

    Alan In Belfast

  • A compelling evening of theatre

    The Irish News

CREATIVE TEAM

Cast:
Various: Tony Flynn

Various: Julie Maxwell

Asha: Raquel McKee

Crew:

Production Manager: Damian Cox

Community Liaison Officer: Bobbi Rai Purdy

Producers: Dominic Montague and Kathy Young

Set Designer: Stuart Marshall

AV / Video Designer: Conan McIvor

Costume Designer: Liz Cullinane

Sound designer / Composer: Dónal O’Connor

Choreographer: Sandy Cuthbert

Dialect Coach: Brendan Gunn

Technical Stage Manager: Chris Fitzpatrick

Deputy Stage Manager: Seána Green

PAST PERFORMANCES


  • 27th February – 13th March:

    Ballywalter Presbyterian Church; Civic Theatre, Tallaght, Dublin; Axis Theatre, Ballymun, Dublin;

    Lyric Theatre, Belfast; An Tain, Dundalk; Marketplace Theatre, Armagh; Playhouse, Derry;

    Droichead, Drogheda; and Roe Valley Arts Centre, Limavady.

  • 2017

    25th October - 4th November

    S13, Boucher Road, Belfast (the former B&Q Warehouse), as part of the Belfast International Arts Festival. 

    Downpatrick Courthouse

    Ards Arts Centre, Newtownards 

    Dungannon Courthouse

    Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin, Derry

Funded by
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