Refugees, theatre and crisis

Refugees who have travelled to western states to claim asylum must prove that they are 'Convention refugees' before they can be considered 'legitimate': they must show that they have fled individual persecution in their home country and that they fear persecution should they return. In the course of arguing their case as 'Convention refugees' they become enmeshed in bureaucratic performance which often casts them as conventional refugees, those who confirm to cultural expectations of suffering, passivity and silence. This book examines a range of theatre and performance practices that address questions of responsibility, hospitality and understanding. Using examples from Europe, Australia and the US it shows how theatre has represented refugees to the citizens of those states. It discusses the many ways that refugees have represented themselves through theatre and the arts and the challenges that they face as a result of mistrust and the expectations that are placed on them.