Closed Lands by Simon Grangeat
Why is the ‘free world’ obsessed with walls?
A Legal Aliens Production at Vaults Festival
Directed by Becka McFadden
“A harrowing picture of dehumanisation and unfairness, perfectly exhibiting how nationality and origins are an arbitrary matter of luck. A darkly comic take on migration surfaces with the sale of preventing procedures, methods of reclusion, and pure violence in the form of glamorous ads. … The company succeeds in delivering a poignant and educational portrayal of the state of political divide.” ★★★★ BroadwayWorld
poetry, satire, reportage, and multimedia
A unique fusion of poetry, satire, reportage, and traveller’s diary, Closed Lands traces the history of modern walls, real and metaphorical, from Berlin to Mexico to Europe and the US. Beginning in 1989 with the euphoria for the fall of the Berlin wall, “the end of shame”, it moves in space and time to Mexico, the Sahara Desert, and the wall of water surrounding “Fortress Europe”.
Closed Lands chronicles the “Free world’s” obsession with border walls and our journey back to shame. This production is based on factual research and performed by actors who are all migrants in the UK.
In association with Exchange Theatre, LegalAliens’ powerful and evocative multimedia production features five women rotating through the roles of migrant, politician, citizen, CEO and a VIP bot, all part of a perverse and random mechanism.
Simon Grangeat is a French playwright. His writing weaves documentary, real testimonies, and fiction into original dramaturges that have been welcomed with warm reception all across Europe.
Creative Team
Directed by Becka McFadden
Translated by Laure Fernandez and LegalAliens
Associate Directed by Jonathan Millington
Lighting Design by Julien Bernard-Grau
Projection Design by Julien Bernard-Grau
Set Up and Costume Design by Laura Rouzet
With Luiana Bonfim, Catharina Conte, Daiva Dominyka, and Becka McFadden
Supported by the cultural department of the French Embassy