Uncivilized is a play by Ahmad Meree dealing with “belonging” in its broadest sense. Meree plays Mohammad who takes us on a journey from arriving as a refugee from war torn Syria to, eventually, becoming a Canadian citizen. But how Canadian can he become? He can vote and get a Canadian passport but he’s still “brown” and Muslim. Throughout the process he’s continually asked if he’s a terrorist. It’s quite cutting but also very funny.
Migraaaants is a theatre piece by Matei Visniec translated by Nick Awde and currently playing at Theatre Passe Muraille in a production directed by Siavash Shabanpour. The programme describes it as a “dark comedy”. I’m not so sure. It certainly has absurdist elements and is occasionally funny in a very uncomfortable way but “comedy” I’m not so sure. Besides, the subject matter; forced migration and people trafficking into and around the EU, is seriously grim. The “dark” part is on the money.
