November 13, 2006
Crocodile Seeking Refuge is a multi stranded tale centred on an Asylum Lawyer and six of her clients whose contrasting stories delicately intertwine together effortlessly raising various issues pertinent to today’s society.
The play’s main theme is grounded by a neat side story about Harriet’s relationship with her long suffering husband who is being gradually sidelined as a result of her job. This plotline offers a strong narrative structure to what could easily have been a play with no direction and works as an excellent catalyst for the comparisons between western society and the various other cultures on display. By introducing us to friends and family, their relationship also helps to raise further issues which are more relevant to those of us who have only ever had the privilege of an outside point of view when it comes to (among others) the themes of refuge, political imprisonment and torture.
The fact that this play is based upon real people and events can’t help to add gravitas to the performances which were all top notch although I was particularly impressed by John Moraitis who was flawless in his truthful portrayal of the Iraqi Jalal.
I would recommend this play strongly to anyone who is willing to look at the currently huge issue of immigration from more than one point of view.
The play’s main theme is grounded by a neat side story about Harriet’s relationship with her long suffering husband who is being gradually sidelined as a result of her job. This plotline offers a strong narrative structure to what could easily have been a play with no direction and works as an excellent catalyst for the comparisons between western society and the various other cultures on display. By introducing us to friends and family, their relationship also helps to raise further issues which are more relevant to those of us who have only ever had the privilege of an outside point of view when it comes to (among others) the themes of refuge, political imprisonment and torture.
The fact that this play is based upon real people and events can’t help to add gravitas to the performances which were all top notch although I was particularly impressed by John Moraitis who was flawless in his truthful portrayal of the Iraqi Jalal.
I would recommend this play strongly to anyone who is willing to look at the currently huge issue of immigration from more than one point of view.