Portlaoise stages story about perfecting immigration for a brighter future
The story of the challenges faced by young migrants as they arrive in Ireland is set to be brought to life in a groundbreaking new poetry play on stage in Portlaoise.
Following an award-winning premiere at last year’s Dublin Fringe Festival, 'The Perfect Immigrant' written and performed by poet and playwright Samuel Yakura is touring theatres across Ireland including the Dunamaise Theatre.
From the struggles of job hunting and navigating Ireland's dating scene to searching for red chilli peppers in Lucan, this timely one-man show is a heartfelt and hilarious exploration of the challenges faced by those in search of a brighter future.
The show revolves around Levi, a courageous young Nigerian man who leaves his homeland, with three worn suitcases, to fulfill his dream of studying engineering in a foreign land.
Samuel Yakura describes how parts of the show are autobiographical.
“The story is about a young adult navigating manhood, loneliness, and self-discovery in a foreign place. The piece draws, in part, from my own experiences as a migrant. Similar to the show’s protagonist, I came to Ireland in 2018 to pursue a master's degree in civil engineering. The piece is quite different from a traditional theatre show. We tell Levi’s story through a powerful mix of poetry, prose, and with an Irish-Nigerian sense of humour that will entertain and resonate with audiences of all backgrounds,” he said.
For Irish audiences, it's claimed that the show provides a unique insight into the cultural challenges of migration. Yakura believes that stories like these will also encourage more minority cultures to engage with Ireland's theatre and arts scene.
“Ireland is undergoing a transformative journey towards becoming a thriving, multicultural society. However, there is a noticeable lack of representation in the arts and in audience attendance. By sharing stories like The Perfect Immigrant on stage, we hope to encourage minority cultures to explore the vibrant world of theatre and arts in Ireland. Personally, my journey as a poet has been enriched by coming here.
“I would encourage the general theatre community but also those outsiders to come and experience this inspiring show,” he says.
The Perfect Immigrant The Perfect Immigrant is directed by up-and-coming director Katie O’Halloran, a recent MFA Directing Graduate at The Lir and the 2022 recipient of the Marie Mullen Bursary with Druid Theatre.
The show will be staged at the Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portaliseon Thursday, October 19 at 8pm. Tickets costing €20/€18 are available from www.dunamaise.ie or Tel: 057 86 63355.