Siavash Shabanpour, Founding Artistic Director of Two Thousand Feet Up Theatre Company, directs the Toronto premiere of Matei Visniec’s dark comedy Migraaaants (translated by Nick Awde), running at Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace from January 13 to 28, 2024.

Through interconnected stories, the play captures the struggles, hopes, and fears of refugees and sheds light on the impact of war and migration.

“As an audience, we journey with asylum seekers from war and unrest, to an over-crowded boat, to an uncertain welcome in an unknown land,” says Siavash Shabanpour, also the play’s director. “The show is inspired by real stories of African and Middle Eastern refugees on their perilous journey to Europe, and it explores the unbreakable human spirit within the refugee narrative, giving audiences a chance to connect with the people beyond the headlines.”

The cast of Migraaaants includes: Ahmad Meree (Boss); Jamar Adams-Thompson (Fehed); Daniel Motaharzadeh (Ali); Andrew Chown (Balkan Man); Mahsa Ershadifar (Balkan Woman); Garrett Mallory Scott (President); Henry Oswald Peirson (Coach); Parastoo Amanzadeh (Elihu); Shannon Pitre (Presenter); Keely Krall (Presenter); Jona Villa (Ensemble); Silvana Herrera (Ensemble); Henrique Santsper (Ensemble); Lean Jafari (Ensemble); and Tina Valizadeh (Ensemble).