Routes

The B Collective and Theatre Témoin

Puppetry, Theatre, Walkabout

Welcome to our homes. For Nabil, it’s the street where he used to crack eggs on the hot pavement in summer. For Callum, it’s the picnic tables outside his local pub. For some, home is a terrifying place to flee from, for others, an idea worth fighting and dying for.

Inspired by true stories from across the globe, Routes is a fantastical journey through danger, hope, and humanity. With four separate stories to follow, each route you take is completely unique!

Routes is an interactive promenade show built with a team of refugee, migrant, and British-born artists that explores perspectives on “Homes” and “Others”. Originally inspired by The Caravan street theatre project in Lebanon, Routes combines true and devised stories to create a layered tale that aims to start a dialogue about what we think and feel about the people we pass by each day on the streets, in relationship to our perspectives on self and home. Using live and recorded music, as well as playful short-form games and audience participation, Routes interweaves four distinct British and refugee narratives together to tell a heartfelt and memorable story of division, hope, and belonging.

About The B Collective and Theatre Témoin

The B Collective is a Liverpool based theatre company founded in 2018 by Ellie Hurt and Natasha Patel.
The B Collective creates bold, dynamic work that seeks to find ways of responding to the world around us through a new lens. In all the productions they create, they hope to challenge your perceptions of what theatre can be. At the heart of all the productions they create is giving a voice to other people. They strongly believe in collaboration and love working with new people, whether they are established artists or just starting their career, there is a place for everyone in their productions.

Theatre Témoin is an award-winning company that tells under-told stories in a visually and physically compelling style with direct input from the communities whose stories we present. They are passionate about developing a canon of exceptional quality that includes under-represented voices, builds bridges, and brings a diverse range of people to theatre in a meaningful, lasting way. Previous work includes critically acclaimed sell-out mask and puppetry productions The Marked and The Fantasist, and Nobody’s Home which has toured nationally in partnership with the Ministry of Defence and with support from the Salisbury Playhouse. Témoin is a supported company of The Lowry and an associate company of the Everyman Cheltenham. They are thrilled to be working with Without Walls to develop Routes, which is our first outdoor theatre production.

Creative / Production Credits

Director
Ailin Conant

Designer
Olivia Altaras

Producer
Hannah Tookey for Theatre Témoin

Participation
Producer Fiona Mason

Sound Designer
Phil Lee

Production Manager
Anthony Hollis

Funding, commissioning and partner credits

Routes was first presented in July 2017 in Lyric Square, Hammersmith with the support of Arts Council England, Hammersmith & Fulham Council and Theatre Delicatessen, and continues its development in 2018 with the support of Without Walls, Greenwich and Docklands International Festival, Stockton International Riverside Festival, and Brighton Festival.

The B Collective are managing the touring, with Theatre Témoin as co-creators.