The Things You Take With You

Synopsis

A liminal space between worlds. Disembodied voices debate the fate of refugees fleeing across the Mediterranean, revealing both compassion and callousness.

In this experimental play, an ensemble of unnamed speakers grapple with the refugee crisis in Europe. Through a series of vignettes and monologues, the characters discuss what refugees pack in their bags as they flee, exposing their own prejudices and fears in the process. Some voices advocate for empathy and acceptance, while others express xenophobia and suggest horrific “solutions” to the influx of asylum seekers.

Interspersed throughout are poignant lists of the modest but meaningful possessions refugees carry with them – family photos, house keys, children’s toys – humanising their plight. The play explores themes of displacement, identity, and human rights, questioning what we value most when forced to leave everything behind. As the crisis escalates, even the Greek gods contemplate fleeing Mount Olympus, suggesting that perhaps we are all refugees in some sense.

Flourakis uses dark humour and surreal imagery to examine Europe’s conflicted response to the refugee crisis, challenging audiences to confront their own culpability. The Things You Take With You asks: In a world of increasing displacement, what do we hold onto, and what are we willing to let go?