Three Migrants

Synopsis

A series of locations in Italy, from the Mediterranean coast to an inland reception centre. The perilous journey of migrants collides with the bureaucratic machinery of Europe.

Abu, Son of God, and John, three African migrants, find themselves washed up on the shores of Sicily after a harrowing sea crossing. As they navigate the bewildering world of Italian immigration procedures, they encounter a cast of characters including volunteers, police officers, and fellow migrants, each representing different facets of Europe’s complex relationship with immigration.

Paravidino’s play is a darkly comic exploration of the migrant crisis and its impact on both the newcomers and European society. Through a series of vignettes that blend absurdist humour with stark realism, the playwright examines themes of identity, bureaucratic indifference, and the clash of cultures. The migrants’ journey becomes a metaphor for the larger struggles of integration and understanding in contemporary Europe.

The play’s structure, moving from the chaos of arrival to the limbo of the reception centre, mirrors the disorienting experience of the migrants themselves. Paravidino’s dialogue crackles with misunderstandings and cultural collisions, exposing the often absurd nature of immigration policies and the human cost of their implementation. As Abu, Son of God, and John grapple with their new reality, deeper questions emerge about the nature of belonging, the arbitrariness of borders, and the human capacity for both cruelty and compassion.