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comes back to London for 7 performances only!

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13 countries 1 family

A unique theatre ensemble

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The Satire of the Calais Jungle

A devised theatre show with refugee & European performers.

BORDERLINE

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DOCUMENTARY
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TRAILER

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“Borderline” is a satirical comedy about the Calais Jungle refugee camp, devised in 2016 by PSYCHEdelight, a theatre company known for its bold work on migration and exile.

The show was born from art-based workshops held in the Calais Jungle throughout 2015–2016, where refugees used humour to cope with and express the gravity of their experiences. Sophie, a theatre director and art therapist, witnessed a powerful hunger for comedy amidst the tragedy — a desire to laugh, connect, and be seen beyond victimhood.

The result is Borderline, a devised theatre piece created over six weeks with a unique theatre ensemble of refugee and European performers from nine different countries: the UK, France, Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Italy, Palestine, Chile, and Sudan. Fusing clowning, physical theatre, and satire, Borderline offers a bold, funny, and deeply human look at borders, bureaucracy, and belonging. 

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ABOUT BORDERLINE

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Because comedy is the flip side of tragedy — a way to process pain through laughter. With Borderline, we chose humour to  devise a theatre show that explores the absurdity of the Western response to the Calais Jungle. We bounced off its contradictions and chaos, using satire to reflect the surreal reality refugees were facing. Our goal was also to shift public perception — to move away from the dark, one-dimensional images often seen in the media. We wanted to highlight the resilience, the creativity, and above all, the remarkable sense of humour of the people we met — a humour that helped them endure even the harshest moments of their journeys.

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Borderline is co-produced by Counterpoints Art and received the precious support from Arts  Council UK, The French Institute, The Cockpit, The Young Vic taking part, Theatre Delicatessen  and Old Vic Workrooms.

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"Borderline has established PSYCHEdelight as one of the leading creators of theatre with refugees, exploring new ways to embed genuine participation that

can lead to professional performance and artistic development." Counterpoints Art

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Why a comedy?

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"I had enough sadness. I love making people laugh. It makes me feel better..." 

- Enayat, 17 y, from Afghanistan

Charly Martelli
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BORDERLINE'S INTERNATIONAL TOUR

GERMANY (Berlin): Nov 2017

 

INDIA (Kerala) : Jan 2018

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DENMARK (Aalborg): Feb 2018

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LONDON:  March 2018​

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OXFORD Human Rights Festival:  March 2018​

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SWITZERLAND (Lausanne): June 2018

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SHANGHAI: Nov 2020 (online - Covid)

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SINGAPORE: Jan 2022 (online - Covid)

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HUFFINGTON POST “High Comedy
 
 
amidst the​ poignancy. Powerful.
 
 
Important.”
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THE GUARDIAN: The funny side of
 
 
Calais Jungle
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REFUGEE WEEK “The refugee art's
 
 
project​​ everyone's talking about”
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WEST END EXTRA Refugees beat visa
 
 
issues​​ and lack of funds to stage ‘funny’
 
 
play about​ the crisis
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SOUTHBANK CENTRE  “From
 
 
Sudan​ to the stage”
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THE BIG ISSUE  “Did you hear the one

 

about the refugees?”

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LONDON REVIEWS HUB  "Fascinating

and purposeful piece of theatre"

Baraa Halabieh

PRESS

MEDIA

THE GUARDIAN   10 min Documentary 

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ALJAZEERA: Interview with Borderline

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AL ARABY  TV 10 min Documentary    

 

(2hrs 13 mins in)

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LONDON LIVE Interview

“Syrian refugee in a comedy about Calais”

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LATEST  TV Interview with director Sophie Besse

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Abd Alrehman Slama

Baraa Halabieh

Charly Martelli

Delia Remy

Gareth Watkins

Enayat Khan

Lujza Richter

Mohamed Sàrràr

Mohanad Hasb Alrsol Badr

Naqeeb Saide

Peter Pearson

Reuben Williams

Roberto Landi

Tracy Radzan

Wasig Zaid

Yasin Moradi

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PERFORMERS

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Director:  Sophie Besse Bertrand
Set Designer:  Petra Hjortsberg
Sound design: Iurii Galkin

Clown facilitator:  Frank Würzinger

Photography:  Jose Farinha and Severine Sajous (top group pic)

Poster:  Pauline Labadie

Producer: Rebecca Laughton

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CREATIVE TEAM

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Tamara Astor (accordeon)

Basel Zaara (drums)

Habib Sadat (drums)

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MUSICIANS

© PSYCHEdelight theatre company. 

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