The Red Room - Text Only - Past Projects

Navigation Links

Journeys to Work

A journey through different lives and experiences.

A multi-media performance offering an alternative perspective on the controversial issue of immigration through the stories of the migrants themselves.

Devised by: Topher Campbell and the Red Room company

Director: Topher Campbell

Writer: Nirjay Mahindru

Digital Artist: Derek Richards

Stage Manager: Samantha Nurse

Assistant Director: Jeremy Elman

Performers: Marva Alexander, Alasdair MacEwen and Daniel Williams

Work in progress previews: 19-21 April 2007, Huset, Copenhagen Festival
UK performances: TBC for spring 2008

The Creative Journey

‘Today the world migration population is 171m. The International Labour Organisation estimates 87m are migrating for economic reasons, 49.7% are women: this is not going to go down, this is not going to get less, in fact the prediction in the world is that migration will increase rather than decrease.’

Sophie Taylor, National Executive Council member of Unison and General Council Member of the Trade Union Congress (TUC UK)

We are living in a time of mass migration brought on by the ease of modern transport. Together with the expansion of the EU and the increased mobility for the workers of Europe, immigration is one of the most inflammatory issues both in the UK and Europe.

Through Journeys to Work the Red Room seeks to provoke and inspire our understanding of the issues facing the UK and by implication the rest of the EU. It asks: what are our rights and responsibilities to those most vulnerable in our society? How do we enshrine the right to work? What are the myths that compel our government to create laws that oppress those seeking refuge in the UK?

Early in 2007 the Red Room filmed over 72 hours of interviews with a selected group of activists, asylum seekers, migrant workers and people working in support of those affected. This footage was taken into the rehearsal room, and used as the starting point for the devising process. The script has developed organically out of rehearsals with biographical contributions made by the actors in close collaboration with the Director, Writer and Digital Artist.

Journeys to Work is a journey in itself. It is, at the same time, a stage play with integrated video footage and a filmed documentary supported by live performance. It is a work-in-progress which itself hopes to inspire progress.

Journeys to Work continues the Red Room’s mission to give a voice and opportunity to some of the most vulnerable members of society and to provoke debate and change.

Partners on the project include:

Caroline Moorehead
Migrants Rights Network
St Mary Magdalene Centre

Journeys to work is part of the @work network, a pan-European collaboration of international artists, workers, trade unions and policy makers engaged in research, discussion and creative exchange about contemporary society, with the support of the Culture 2000 Programme of the European Union.
The Copenhagen festival is the culmination of this collaboration.

The @work network is:

Teatermaskinen (Sweden)
Reality Research Centre (Finland)
TeaterKUNST (Denmark)
Berlin N@twork (Germany)
The Red Room (UK)

Funded by:

This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein

Supported by the John Fernald Award