Paper Smokers/Fumatori di Carta presents:
Diary of an Expat
Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre
Until Friday 5th April 2019
Performed by Cecilia Gragnani
Directed by Katharina Reinthaller
Written by Cecilia Gragnani, Jvan
Sica and Loredana de Michelis
As Great Britain lurches from one
Brexit headline to another,
Diary of an Expat describes the
journey of an Italian who settled here nine years ago and found herself
integrating with our funny ways.
We found ourselves at a
loose end on a Wednesday night an decided to pay Alphabetti a visit. Even
though the website suggested there were no tickets available, a quick call
confirmed it was that they’d taken down the online reservations a couple of
hours before the show started. We are glad we did make the effort as Diary of an Ex-pat is exactly the type
of fringe show that this intimate venue excels at.
Cecilia
is has enjoyed learning English back in her native Italy and so it seemed
natural that she would book a one way ticket to London and to try to establish herself
here. The Alphabetti audience are quickly introduce to a guide book to British
life. Quickly you’re left wondering if the British citizenship test really does
include the area of Loch Lomond or questions about soap operas. I’d be doomed
as I don’t know have big the Lochs are and I don’t watch those programmes.
Some of the habits of
life in London are funny when you have then reflected back on us. Where else in
the world can you enjoy a sausage roll? Or learn to walk with a purpose but
avoid eye contact? Though as a Northerner, I too struggle with that last one in
the capital.
Cecilia is lovely. Though
this is explained as a double-edged sword in the show – I mean the same as
dictionary meaning rather than the sarcastic form of the phrase. Her demeanour is
engaging with the audience – she is able to ask questions of the audience
without the audience feeling anxious.
The show hits an
interesting place. Not preachy, it doesn’t ask for sympathy nor does it try to
lecture. It is a pragmatic, matter-of-fact statement of how it is for the Italian
earning a living and enjoying life with her English partner. I did find myself
drawing conclusions about events since 2016.
Did I mention the sausage
roll badge that was given to the audience? We love it!
The show is “pay what you
feel”. At the end you have the option to pay however much you feel you can for
an hour’s entertainment. In addition to the brown cash envelopes, they now have
a card reader too for your anonymous donation for the show. We took advantage
of the card reader on this occasion. This scheme enables the less well off to
access the arts – we salute this concept.
Diary of an Ex-pat is an
interesting expose of members of our community. A lovely bit of theatre.
Review by Stephen Oliver
On The Web:
@Paper_Smokers
@thececiliag
#DiaryofanExpat
Cast & Creatives:
Performed by Cecilia Gragnani and Steve Wickenden (voice over)
Directed by Katharina Reinthaller
Written by Cecilia Gragnani, Jvan Sica and Loredana de Michelis
Set design by Rasa Selemonavičiūtė
Sound design by Neil McKeown
Movement director Mala Cherga Theatre
Tickets:
Running Time: 60 mins
Suitable for ages 14+
Tickets are ‘Pay What You Feel’
Theatre website: https://www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk/whats-on-menu/coming-up/17-whats-on-articles/424-diary-of-an-expat
Tickets reservations: https://www.ticketsignite.com/event/731/diary-on-an-expat
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