In September 2023, Art Translated, a new collective of European theatre translators, will stage a production of Sorry We Didn't Die at Sea at Park Theatre. 'Sorry' was written in 2015 by acclaimed Italian playwright Emanuele Aldrovandi. The show's been produced in German, French and Spanish, but ours is the first English production. Here's a brief synopsis:
In a not-too-distant future, the European economy has collapsed. Seeking better jobs and brighter futures, Europeans are forced to set out illegally for more affluent countries, all of which have closed their borders. The Tall One, The Beautiful One, The Stocky One and The Burly One are stuck in a shipping container, en-route to an undisclosed location, but it remains unclear whether they will ever make it anywhere at all. With its archetypal characters and existential themes, this darkly comedic piece invites us to consider the contingency of migrant status, the fragility of civil society, and the risks we run by ignoring the power of the natural world.
The show was staged at Seven Dials Playhouse for a week in July, directed by Daniel Emery. Park Theatre, a wonderful off-West End venue in North London with an excellent reputation, attended our July run and have invited us to join their Autumn 2023 season, with a slot in September. This is a fantastic opportunity to stage a UK premiere and be the first piece of contemporary Italian theatre - aside from The Lehman Trilogy! - to be given a full London run in over 15 years.
Most importantly, though, we hope the production will generate discussion and reflection on the plight of refugees in ongoing migrant crises across the world, and serve of a reminder of the contingency of migrant status.