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  • BÉZNĂ Theatre presents

    wipe these tears

    Tue 11 Oct - Sat 22 Oct at 7pm
    Tickets £11 (£10)
    ARCHIVE
    A theatrical montage journeying across borders and centuries to explore imperial methods of crushing dissent and to celebrate solidarity. World premiere from British-Romanian BÉZNĂ Theatre.

    A primary school in the UK today reports a pupil believed to be harbouring anti-British sentiments to the police. 1842, the remnants of the East India Company army retreat from Kabul to British India. A woman searches for her lover on the Highway of Death, Iraq, 1991. An arms deal negotiated in a war zone hotel changes a young businessman’s life forever.

    “A bouquet of flesh flowers melted into each other

    Hand to hand

    Face to shoulder

    Chemical unification of skins”

    wipe these tears is a theatrical montage journeying across borders and centuries to explore imperial methods of crushing dissent and to celebrate solidarity. Told by an ensemble of female performers it is the result of interviews with over 90 individuals including survivors of war & torture from Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, Syria, Palestine & Guantanámo Bay; ex-service people deployed in Afghanistan, Gaza, Iraq, Libya, Somalia & the 1st Gulf War; clinical psychologists specialising in torture & war crimes; surgeons & paramedics working in war-zones & the UK’s leading anti-war, anti-Islamophobia, state crime & colonial studies academics & activists.

    It’s female & BME-led, the cast of which will comprise entirely of working class & BME women representing their communities, languages & cultures on stage.

    Commissioned by Camden People’s Theatre, Supported by Arts Council England, International State Crime Initiative, Shadow World Investigations & British Council.

    • Writer Sînziana Cojocărescu
    • Director Nico Vaccari
    • Producer Claire Gilbert for BÉZNĂ Theatre
    • Composer Kareem Samara 
    • Set Design Cory Shipp
    • Costume Design Giulia Gallon
    • Lighting Design  Amy Daniels 
    • Sound Design Dan Balfour
    • Fight Director Haruka Kuroda
    • Vocal Master  Laura Hannah
    • Puppetry Director Marie Fortune for Foan & Fortune.
    • Social Media Zuhal Kiziltug
    • Performers Lizzie Clarke, Sofia Danu, iulia isar, Shala Nyx, Sama Rantisi with live music from Kareem Samara
    Commissioned by CPT
    Content Notice
    Running Time 80 minutes
    Wheelchair Accessible
    Wheelchair Accessible
    Assistance dogs welcome
    Assistance dogs welcome
    Content Notice
    Content NoticeDepiction of war, genocide, torture, Islamophobia (including racist terms), detention, child abuse, suicide; Brief mention of sexual violence; Descriptions of war and wounds. Suitable for16+
    Health Notice
    Health NoticeLoud noises, Food/drinks
    "Another powerful and hard-hitting performance"
    North West End
    "It is a very long time since I last saw a play as angrily political as ILLEGALISED."
    British Theatre Guide
    "Excellent, truly excellent"
    Audience Feedback
    "So interesting, so powerful, so moving."
    Audience Feedback
    "Incredibly important, necessary."
    Audience Feedback
    "[An] unapologetic confrontation with state-sanctioned violence, and a celebration of those who fight it."
    The Play's The Thing

    Tobi King Bakare and this theatre deserve a shout-out for such a young, diverse audience. There is so much talk about audiences being full of over 60s and why, why can’t theatres get the crowds in to reflect society in general? Well, I’m happy to say that on a rainy Thursday evening, the theatre was completely full.

    Caiti Grove on Before I Go in CPT's Spring 2023 season London Theatre Reviews