Kebab

Synopsis

Ireland, 2007

Kebab follows the lives of three Romanian immigrants in Ireland: Bogdan, Madalina, and Voicu. Bogdan, a 24-year-old visual arts student, and Madalina, a 15-year-old aspiring dancer, travel to Ireland seeking better opportunities. Voicu, a 26-year-old showbiz personality, is Madalina’s boyfriend and has convinced her to join him in Ireland. The story unfolds in various settings, including a plane, a cheap apartment in Dublin, and multiple seedy locations, showcasing the harsh realities and dreams of the characters as they navigate their new lives abroad. The narrative reveals the exploitation and challenges they face, culminating in a dire and complex situation where Voicu pressures Madalina into prostitution, and Bogdan struggles with his own ambitions and moral compromises.

The play’s themes centre around migration, exploitation, and identity. It employs a non-linear narrative and an episodic structure, often utilizing direct and raw dialogue to emphasise the brutal realities of the characters’ lives. The tone is dark and unflinching, with moments of bleak humour, highlighting the absurdity and desperation of their situations. The style is gritty and realistic, drawing from elements of in-yer-face theatre to confront the audience with uncomfortable truths about social inequality, abuse, and the often-overlooked struggles of immigrants.