The 73rd. Ave. Theatre Company presents the North American premiere of Clare Bayley’s 'The Container'

Five immigrants seeking refuge are smuggled illegally in a shipping container. Join them inside.

The 73rd. Ave. Theatre Company presents the North American premiere of Clare Bayley's "The Container" directed by Jesse Larner.

 "The Container" is the story of a five immigrants from the Middle East and Africa seeking refuge in the UK as they are smuggled illegally in a shipping container -- the location and duration of their trip is unknown. Fleeing from their homeland, the characters try to preserve basic human dignity under appalling conditions as allegiances to their nationalities and to themselves are challenged when basic survival becomes necessary. This Amnesty International sponsored production is a portrait of people of varied nationalities showing how immigration is happening throughout our modern world.

"The Container" was the hit of the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe, winning a Scotsman Fringe First and Amnesty's Freedom of Expression Award and was performed in 2009 in London's West End. Denver actor Wadi Muhaisen, who plays a Kurdish refugee, happened to be London just after the initial run of the play, when the 73rd Ave Theatre was first planning its production. Muhaisen said, "I had just returned from a month abroad in Europe where I happened to learn about 'The Container' from my friends in London. We were talking about how it would be doubtful that any theater company in Denver would bring this here. I was floored to receive news that the 73rd Ave. Theatre would be presenting it. I commend the 73rd Ave Theater for producing this play and taking on these issues; it is a compelling drama that gives the audience insight into the plight, and humanity, of similarly situated people in the world."

The play will be presented in a 40' rail-road shipping container just outside the theatre -- the audience and the actors will be enclosed together for the 60 minute performance creating an emotional, real, and thought provoking experience. This daring venture of both staging and content has garnered attention from Denver's arts and theatre community.

• The pre-production process consisted of a 10 months research, meeting with members of the Somali, Afgani, Iranian, Iraqi, and Palestinian communities in a series of interviews in homes, and in the back of many Arabic grocery stores, and restaurants.

• The production is of major interest, and is being covered in Spanish by Viva Colorado, and in Arabic by Akher Khabar newspaper.

• There are four human rights organizations sponsoring the show: Project Worth More, CoAid - Community Aid Relief and Development, Project Education Sudan, and the ACC - African Community Center.

• A leader from the Somali community set up language and dialect lessons at her restaurant in Aurora for two of the actresses.

• The Young Vic Theatre in London, who was responsible for the initial staging of the show has been in close communication with us, and have been a primary aid in helping to pass on safety and building construction information to us which was required to pass the City of Westminster building and special events permitting process, and site re-zoning. They feel that the presentation of the play is of primary importance, and that this premiere is a direct follow-up to their show. They request audience feedback from us especially in regards to responses unique to the US: that of Central American immigration. As the show was initially sponsored by Amnesty International, they request this feedback for their records, and documentation process. - A talk-back session will accompany every performance.

• This is the North American premiere of The Container.

• We have decided to add an special performance on September 11th with an extended talk-back session after the show. This performance is an attempt to offer a different forum for discussion with cast, crew, and people of varied ethnicity. This alternative to watching news re-runs hopes to face, and bridge sensitive issues to discover where we, as a people have been, and are headed after Sept. 11th.

73rd Ave Theatre Company
The Container
Five immigrants seeking refuge are smuggled illegally in a shipping container. Join them inside.
Sundays at 6:45 p.m.
September 5 - November 7
$20
Call 720- 276-6936
7287 Lowell Blvd., Westminster, CO 80030
www.the73rdavenuetheatrecompany.com

No one under 16 years old will be admitted.

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