3 Migrant Women

Migration, either as an economic consequence of war, or as a political escape route, is not something that is going to go away

The plight of economic migrants and political refugees determined to pay traffickers to cross the English Channel in small boats continues to grab headlines and to divide opinions here in the UK. On a day when a counter-demonstration caused chaos and disruption in and around the Port of Dover, Norwich Theatre’s Stage Two was hosting its groundbreaking '3 Migrant Women' show play to another full house. The show, which is directed by Norwich Theatre’s Miche Montague, has already been performed at theatres in London, Nottingham and Lichfield during the summer, and it comprises a cast of four who, in real life, are refugee migrants who have travelled to the UK, and found sanctuary in Norwich.

Designated as a Proud Theatre of Sanctuary, Norwich Theatre has done much in working with migrants within the city, following a tradition that can be traced all the way back to the 16th Century, when Flemish weavers, fleeing religious persecution in Flanders, were welcomed into Norwich, where they became known as 'Strangers'.

The cast of ‘3 Migrant Women’ was selected from a series of drama workshops that have been run at Norwich Theatre under the tutelage of Miche Montague. Etta first arrived in Norwich from Zimbabwe, having previously been forced to leave Stalinist Russia as a young political émigrée; Daria arrived more recently from Ukraine, following the Russian invasion; and Deniz and her husband Sunat arrived in Norwich from Turkey after a deadly earthquake left them homeless. Each participant has their own moving story to tell, although the show opens with a group piece, created during workshop sessions at Norwich Theatre, and performed in the Turkish language. Powerful, moving and harrowing, this opening piece really helped convey the sense of isolation, fear and despair that refugees must face on arriving in a strange country. It also provided a platform for those stories and experiences to be shared. These are very human and personal stories – there is no judgement made nor political solutions offered, and it is this non-judgemental approach that makes 3 Migrant Women such a powerful and moving experience.

Migration, either as an economic consequence of war, or as a political escape route, is not something that is going to go away. 3 Migrant Women presents the human face of migration and, as such, succeeds, providing no solutions, but prompting so many questions. Congratulations to Norwich Theatre, not just for this piece of work, but for everything it does with the migrant community within our city, and for carrying on our proud tradition of welcoming strangers to Norwich.