A Young Vic and Amnesty International Production in association with Meeting Ground Theatre Company
Cast (alphabetical order)
Amber Agar Mariam
Doreene Blackstock Fatima
Abhin
Galeya Jemal
Mercy Ojelade Asha
Hassani
Shapi Ahmed
Chris Spyrides The
Agent
Creative Team
Direction Tom
Wright
Design Naomi Dawson
Sound Adrienne Quartly
Enclosed in a freight container somewhere in Europe, five people huddle together with a common aim. Reach England. Start a new life. Can they rely on each other? And how far will each of them go to get what they want?
You can read a paper to know people smuggling happens. But watch The Container and it becomes a reality, putting faces and voices alongside stories of hope and sacrifice.
In July 2009 twenty-eight audience members were locked into a steel shipping container parked outside the Young Vic for each performance. Now, in association with DIgital Theatre you can watch the whole production on pay for view here
“This short but riveting piece. . . leaves you with an overwhelming
sympathy for all of the refugees.” Four Stars, Time Out
“The cast, in Tom Wright’s edgy production (supported
by Amnesty International), are very strong, drawing you into their characters’
plights. This is a powerful and disturbing drama about an important issue. I
have rarely been so glad to leave a play – but that is the point.” Four Stars,
Financial Times
“The five characters we share the small dark space with are
completely compelling. . . Tension and human volatility are intensified in this
extreme, condensed arena. . . The acting is mesmerising.’ The Obvserver
“The play makes those caught up in human trafficking and
illegal immigration, so often reduced to statistics, seem fiercely real.”
Evening Standard
You can find an excellent article on the creation of the piece in The Guardian here.
See Tom's interview on CNN here.