‘The Table’ arrives at ARC this month, offering a powerful and timely exploration of migration, identity and belonging.
Built from real interviews with first-generation economic migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, the production gives voice to lived experiences that are often overlooked. Through a series of intimate, thought-provoking scenes, audiences are invited to look beyond headlines and statistics, gaining a deeper understanding of the personal journeys that shape global migration stories and the emotional impact they carry.
Each staging of ‘The Table’ is uniquely crafted by its performing company, drawing from a wider collection of 40 scenes written by award-winning playwright Aisha Zia. The material is rooted in three years of research conducted with migrant communities across the UK, ensuring authenticity, depth and sensitivity throughout every performance.
This flexible structure allows each production to feel distinct, shaped by the perspectives and creative choices of the cast and directors involved, while also responding to the local community in which it is performed. As a result, every iteration offers a slightly different lens on the same core themes, making each performance both unique and responsive.
The production forms a moving, human-centred piece that highlights resilience, hope and the complexities of starting anew in unfamiliar surroundings. It encourages audiences to reflect on shared humanity while also confronting difficult and timely questions around borders, acceptance and identity in today’s world.
‘The Table’ will be performed on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th June, with times varying.
Tickets, available on a pay-what-you-decide basis, can be purchased at arconline.co.uk.
