Finding sanctuary

HERE, by Lindsay Rodden, is a co-production by Curious Monkey, Northern Stage and Newcastle University and part of Curious Monkey’s long term work with refugees, migrants and asylum seekers.

HERE is about finding sanctuary in the unlikeliest of places. About dancing on rooftops, blossom in winter, and re-writing the story of the city as your own. About two best friends with a library card and the power they summon through friendship and books to make something magical. To say WE WERE HERE.

The play explores similar themes to Professor Peter Hopkins’ research into Refugee Youth and Public Space. The Professor of Social Geography will hold a post-show panel discussion after the performance on Thursday 10th March, responding to the themes in the show and comparing the findings of the research.

“Our research about refugee youth and about how refugees have negotiated the pandemic highlights the diverse challenges of the refugee community, as well as drawing attention to the places where they find sanctuary,” he says.

“It has been really rewarding to be able to secure funding to support the work of Northern Stage and Curious Monkey in the production of HERE by Lindsay Rodden.”

Powerful stories

The play is part of Curious Monkey’s Arriving project. Collaborating for 18 months with refugees, asylum seekers and migrants from all over the world including Sudan, Syria, Angola, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Zimbabwe, Kosovo, Bangladesh, Congo and Nigeria, writer Lindsay Rodden worked closely with more than 80 people who are now settling in the North- East and Derby to create authentic characters.

Lindsay says: “As a writer, I was determined not to take a story from anyone. Because stories are so powerful that the Home Office will demand yours from you, question it, doubt it, perhaps use it against you. But stories have been given, and invented, and shared, and that’s how we made HERE. The play is only one part of a huge project, and a growing community writing its own story, reclaiming and harnessing that power in the hope of happy endings. That’s all any of us want, isn’t it?”

The cast includes professional actors from refugee backgrounds:

Arieta Visoka plays Lulja. Arieta came to the UK aged two as a refugee from Kosovo. The R&D process for HERE was Arieta’s first professional job and she is excited to share the play with a live audience. She says: “I can’t wait to see the characters interact on stage, and show the truth behind their own history. The story is very important to me personally, and I feel so lucky to be working with the whole creative team again.”

Joana Geronimo plays Pauline. Now living in Newcastle, Joana is from Angola, and her theatre credits include The Space Between Us (Open Clasp) and From the Sky to Your Hands (Live Theatre).

HERE is directed by Amy Golding and written by Lindsay Rodden. Amy founded Curious Monkey in 2013 and her directing credits include Leaving by Paddy Campbell, Beats North by Luke Barnes and Ishy Din, and Mamela by Gez Casey and Ziphozahke Hlobo. A writer and dramaturg, Lindsay was selected for the Royal Court and Northern Stage’s NORTH writers’ group and is a former writer-in-residence at Live Theatre in Newcastle. Her writing credits include The Story Giant (Liverpool Everyman, adapted from the book by Brian Patten) and Cartographers (Theatre by the Lake), and she is currently writing a musical for the National Theatre.

Director Amy Golding says: “HERE is a beautiful story full of hope (and challenges!) It’s about unlikely friendships, it’s both very funny and heart wrenching in parts. Set against the backdrop of austerity in a struggling library, it is also about the power of books and storytelling.

“The show was due to open in the week of the very first lockdown in March 2020, it was about to open and tour the UK when the theatres were all shut down. Two years on and the play is more urgent than ever.

“The increased hostile environment fuelled by Priti Patel’s nationality and borders bill makes it all the more important that we humanise people who are seeking sanctuary, this play helps us (those involved in making it and audiences alike) to understand the commonalities between us as humans despite where we’re from and what circumstances we have found ourselves in.”

As part of the Arriving project, Curious Monkey also ran workshops for children and young people inspired by Beverley Naidoo’s award-winning children's novel about Nigerian political refugees, The Other Side of Truth which included Byker Primary School children speaking to the author via Skype. And in December 2019, they became the first theatre company of sanctuary in North East England, working across the city to make sure people feel the theatre is somewhere they feel welcome.

HERE is at Northern Stage from 4-12 March. All performances are relaxed, BSL interpretation and captioning on selected dates is available, and translated synopsis available in seven languages. The show will also be available to stream online. 

Press release adapted with thanks to Curious Monkey and Northern Stage