The Higher We Go

Synopsis

A stark, windowless room in an unknown location in London, where time seems to stand still.

Amara, a displaced woman, finds herself trapped in a mysterious detention centre with her son Silver. As they struggle to survive on meagre rations and vague promises of a better future, Amara clings to memories of her lost daughter and her husband Iman. The play unfolds through a series of tense encounters that blur the lines between past and present, reality and memory.

Zeyana Yussuf’s The Higher We Go is a haunting exploration of identity, loss, and the human cost of displacement. Through a series of fragmented scenes, the play delves into the psychological toll of indefinite detention and the erosion of hope in the face of an oppressive system. Yussuf’s sparse dialogue and evocative imagery create a claustrophobic atmosphere that mirrors the characters’ confinement. As Amara and Silver grapple with their changing relationship and the pressure to conform to their captors’ demands, the play raises provocative questions about assimilation, cultural erasure, and the true meaning of freedom. The tension builds to a devastating climax that forces the audience to confront the brutal realities faced by those caught in the limbo of immigration detention.