On March 12, Vermont’s acclaimed Sandglass Theater returns to the Redfern Arts Center at Keene State College with their newest production “Babylon: Journeys of Refugees”, a piece made in response to the worldwide refugee crisis.
“Babylon” looks at the relationship of refugees to their homelands, lost and new, and the conflicts that exist within the countries to which they flee. Working with the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program in Burlington, the company interviewed resettled refugees in order to gain first-hand insight into their plight and trauma of resettlement. Using full-sized table-top puppets, moving panoramic scrolls, and original four-part choral songs, “Babylon” examines the challenges that face refugees – physical, emotional, and spiritual – to reveal stories about the endurance of the human spirit.
In “Babylon”, it creates a point of contact through which people who have experienced the hardship of migration and those who have never experienced this kind of hardship can connect across stories of the human experience. While the performance is about the journeys of refugees, it is also very much reflective of a larger dialogue occurring across America. In the middle of one of the largest mass migrations in human history, people migrate for many reasons; some flee from the ravages of war, hunger, religious persecution, climate crises, or political repressions. The rights of immigrants and refugees are a contested issue globally, but conversations about this complex issue remain vital across communities, whether they are directly impacted by newly-resettled refugees or not.
“Babylon” recognizes the importance of sharing stories about immigration to focus the dialogue and raise new questions for any community that is also engaged with these issues of immigration.
“We’re really asking, ‘How can we become more compassionate listeners and how can we spark dialogue about this extremely complex issue?’” says Sandglass ensemble member Kei Ching.
Sandglass Theater is a renowned theater company dedicated to the arts of theater and puppetry as a means to explore contemporary issues, inspire dialogue, and spark wonder. Sandglass’ skill is in how they bring sensitivity and nuance to difficult subjects. Their puppetry is exquisite in form and evokes powerful emotion. They specialize in combining puppets with music, actors, and visual imagery.
The current “Babylon” production features ensemble performers Shoshana Bass, Ron Domingo, Kalob Martinez, Raphael Sacks, and Kaitee Yaeko Tredway.
In combination with “Babylon”, photographs of New Hampshire’s immigrants are on display through March 13 in the main lobby of the Redfern Arts Center. The images are part of the body of work, “Different Roots, Common Dreams”, by NH photographer Becky Field. The photographs celebrate the lives and journeys of our immigrant neighbors and honor the cultural, ethnic and religious diversity that exists in the Granite State. Companion exhibits by Becky Field are also on display at the Mason Library, Keene State College, and the Cheshire Medical Center.
The Redfern’s Creative Connections provides free engagement activities for the campus community and general public. Public engagement for Sandglass Theater includes the following activities: Refugee Journey Workshop with Sandglass Theater, Tuesday, March 10, 2 p.m., Thorne-Sagendorph Gallery Art Lab; Public reception and informal discussion with artist Becky Field, Thursday, March 12, 6:30 p.m., Redfern Main Lobby; Post-show reception and discussion with Sandglass Theater, Thursday, March 12, Main Lobby.
Ticket prices range from $13 to $20 for the general public and $7 for KSC students. For tickets, call (603) 358-2168 or order online at www.keene.edu/arts/redfern/.