Theatre of Witness: Stories of Sanctuary

‘Sanctuary’ illuminates the stories of those in exile, those seeking safe haven, and those who have created oases of peace and healing in Northern Ireland. The performers include refugee and asylum seekers, as well as those born in NI who have offered or had to seek refuge following violence, institutional abuse, forced exile, poverty and sectarianism. ‘Sanctuary’ also highlights moments of ordinary humble peace building.

The production is scripted and directed by Teya Sepinuck, with original music by Brian Irvine, puppetry by Aja Marneweck and film sequences by Declan Keeney and will run at The Playhouse in Derry-Londonderry from Thursday 17 to Saturday 19 October.

The performers who share their own true stories include: a refugee from the war in Somalia, a woman from Northern Ireland who suffered institutional abuse in an orphanage, a young man from Zimbabwe who fled his country, a woman who grew up as a victim of sectarian violence in Belfast, a young man from Zimbabwe whose father was killed in the military and the manager of an organization that serves refugees, asylum seekers, migrants and those who are homeless.

Theatre of Witness is a unique form of performance created by its founder and artistic director, Teya Sepinuck, in which the stories of those who haven’t been heard in society are performed by the storytellers themselves. The performances are created and performed by the people who have directly experienced the issues being explored, putting a face and a heart to societal issues of suffering and transformation.

‘Sanctuary’ is The Playhouse’s fourth original Theatre of Witness production supported by the European Union’s PEACE III Programme, managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by the Community Relations Council/Pobal Consortium.

It follows on the success tours of ‘We Carried Your Secrets’ (2009), ‘I Once Knew a Girl’ (2010), and ‘Release’ (2012). Films of each of the productions have been created, with Margo Harkins award winning ‘The Far Side of Revenge’ (based on ‘I Once Knew a Girl’) that will be broadcast on BBC NI this fall. Declan Keeney’s ‘Release’ premiered September 9.

‘Sanctuary’ will run at The Playhouse from Thursday, October 17 to Saturday, October 19, before a tour of Northern Ireland. Tickets are free and are available from The Playhouse Box Office on 028 7126 8027 or online at www.derryplayhouse.co.uk.