Laughter, tears and triumphs – all in one suitcase.
Seasons of Immigration will be performed at the Centre In The Square on March 18 at 8pm. The ground breaking Canadian play is based on the real life experiences of immigrants new to Canada and the Waterloo Region.
“The process of moving to a new country and a new culture is a daunting venture that is explored in this work,” said director Majdi Bou-Matar.
Seasons of Immigration was created by theatre group MT Space, who invited the community to submit their personal immigration stories in any language, format, or genre. The collection of stories inspired the creation of the play during a seven-week workshop.
The story begins with a decision to leave the homeland and move to the western world; the land of freedom and opportunity.
Each character discovers immigration to Canada involves an immediate confrontation with not only the cold and vastness of the land, but the pursuit to prove one’s self in this fast-paced lifestyle.
The six performers create the physical as well as emotional turmoil as characters go through the complexities of leaving their country and the steps of settling down in Canada.
Set on a bare stage using simple props and costumes, the story is told through physical movement, light-hearted text with live painting and soundscape.
The characters explore issues of adaptation, language barriers, racism, loss of parental control, and the need to maintain cultural integrity while struggling with a redefinition of self in a foreign land.
Tickets are $35 and are available at the Centre In The Square box office at 519-578-1570, 1-800-265-8977, or at www.centre-square.com.
