by Julya Rabinowich | translation by Karin Rosnizeck
“riveting performances”
“a meditation on a condition”
“love and torture are inexplicably intertwined”
“timely for contemporary discussions of refugees”
SURFACING ran September 12-29, 2019 at ATLAS Performing Arts Center. The piece features three characters (A, B, and C) living in captivity: a female refugee (A) hiding underground, fearing deportation, and traumatized by her journey across cultures, a kidnap victim (B) locked in a basement at the mercy of her perpetrator, and a young man (C) imprisoned in his own home due to the threat of blood revenge against his family. Each is trapped, isolated, and unable to surface or take part in everyday life. The play explores their mental states, survival strategies, and the way their minds work through cycles of hope, fear, anger, and desperation. In a world where millions of people are fleeing oppression and dealing with hopelessness, this thought-provoking production opens our eyes to the plight of the marginalized, dispossessed, and downtrodden. Here are some background readings and videos on global migration and the plight of refugees.
SURFACING previously ran July 9-28, 2019 as part of the the D.C. Capital Fringe Festival and featured Yvonne Paretzky (A), Christine Jacobs (B), & Danny Santiago (C).
Featuring Nichole Chimere, Christine Jacobs, & Greg Ongao
Directed by Karin Rosnizeck
Choreorgaphed by Erica Rebollar
Lighting Design by Ian Claar
Scenic & Projection Design by Johnny Robertson
Reviews/Audience Feedback
“love and torture are inexplicably intertwined”
“riveting performances”
“thought-provoking”
“timely for contemporary discussions of refugees”
“terrific analysis of captivity impact”
“Edgy and avant-garde”
“Very moving and raw”
“terrifically well done and thought-provoking”
“a 10 out of 10”
“this work needs to reach the audience made up of people working in amnesty, human rights, immigration, and trauma-informed care”
“a meditation on a condition”
Additional Resources on Refugees & Global Migration
Readings
“Migrant Crisis: Children Among Seven Killed as Boat Sinks in Greece” (BBC News 11 Jun 2019)
“Syrian Refugee Crisis Could Grow Exponentially Worse” (The Hill 22 May 2019)
“Germany’s Europe-Shaking Political Crisis Over Migrants” (New York Times 3 Jul 2018)
Interview w/ William Lacy Swing of the Int’l Org for Migration (UN News 20 Dec 2016)
Support Us
ExPats Theatre is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt, non-profit organization under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Your contributions are deductible to the full extent of the law. Contributions can be made via Zelle, Venmo, or check, or you can click below to donate using PayPal or major credit cards:
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=KYV6KEKATFTD6
If you have any questions, you can email us at ExPatsTheatre@aol.com.