Organised by Cardiff’s STAR (Student Action for Refugees) and Fforwm (Cardiff Experimental Theatre Society). Scripted by Sonja Linden, performed by Ice and Fire (exploring human rights stories through performance).

As a blasé Brit I have often found myself falling into the familiar trap of forgetting the fortunate position I find myself in as a ‘native’ of this comfortable country. While I sometimes daydream about exciting pastures on foreign continents, it can be easy to forget that there are people across the globe desperate to escape lives of unjustifiable horror and seek asylum in the UK. The ‘Asylum Monologues’ performed by Ice and Fire at Cathays’ Community Centre in Cardiff on February 12 showcased the stories of a choice few asylum seekers who had managed to flee the countries of their persecution only to be caught up the traps and processes of the refugee system of our ‘Great’ Britain. It was an eye-opening performance.

'A term like ‘institutionalised racism’ is heard a lot without being taken as gravely as it should be. The monologues, however, demonstrate how racism has become a deciding factor within the asylum system. Unfair treatment can send an individual into the ordeal of a kind of diplomatic psychological torture and increasing cynicism about one’s own life and worth'

The monologues were not an emotional plea for the recognition of travesties in the darker corners of the world that we all know exist, but a cry for unbiased pragmatism and unbridled decency to govern the practices of organisations in this country that are supposed to be designed to assist people in reaching a standard of life that we all deserve. In telling the stories of asylum seekers, using their words but with minimalist acting, there was no pulling of the audience’s heartstrings but rather the presentation of the facts and reasons behind the seeking of refugee status told against the report of a UK border agency whistle-blower detailing the attempts to halt their progress.

A term like ‘institutionalised racism’ is heard a lot without being taken as gravely as it should be. The monologues, however, demonstrate how racism has become a deciding factor within the asylum system. Unfair treatment can send an individual into the ordeal of a kind of diplomatic psychological torture and increasing cynicism about one’s own life and worth. This issue was one of the most important points of the show, which also dealt with the lack of support offered to those given refugee status, the right wing anti-immigration and xenophobic media’s populist take on those seeking residence in the UK, and how government cuts could restrict the effectiveness of organisations who are trying to help those in dire situations. As UK citizens, and human beings, the emphasis on us to exercise our democratic and liberated powers was not overt, but the implication was tremendous.

I applaud the production for resisting the urge to patronise the audience, over-sentimentalise the material or drown in shocking statistics (of which there are many). The performance was powerful because it addressed matters which are unacceptable. It is a show I highly recommend, especially for those, like myself, who are not well-versed in the matter of asylum seekers. I would urge any cynics to attend a performance.

Words: Andrew Steel

Photos: Ice and Fire

For more info on Ice and Fire, click here

To learn more about asylum seekers in the UK visit the Refugee Council website here

To watch '1000 voices,' the award winning Ctrl.Alt.Shift short film about refugees, click here