Bringing together artists from Iran, Palestine & the UK,
Aviatrix
takes a microscope to the now fragmented landscape that pioneering
aviator Amy Johnson saw from above.
Present day: A Palestinian actor, Hadi, boards a plane to London to
perform in a theatrical production commemorating the life of British
aviator, Amy Johnson, and her record breaking solo flight from the
UK to Australia. Whilst mid-flight the British government impose a
ban on citizens of Muslim majority countries entering the UK, and
Hadi is on the list.
1930: Amy Johnson is forced to land her plane in a sandstorm and is
found by Iraqi engineer Muhammad Al-Baghdadi.
From the confines of his detention cell Hadi begins rehearsing his
scenes as a distraction. Jasminder, the immigration officer in
charge of his case, watches him through the glass of a one-way
mirror trying to ascertain whether he is a legitimate threat. As
Hadi flits between the 1930s and invasive airport security checks in
the present, an uncomfortable parallel starts to emerge between the
two worlds; but in one he has agency, and the other he does not.
Performed in English & Arabic with a nerve shaking soundtrack
produced by Iranian experimental electronic duo 9T Antiope.
This show was inspired by actual events; in 2016 Olivia Furber was
commissioned to create a piece for the Amy Johnson Festival. Almost
all the artists involved were denied entry to the UK.
Director: Olivia Furber
Writer: Olivia Furber
Dramaturge: Jo Tyabji
Video designer: Hannah Mason
Composers: 9T Antiope
Cast: Komal Amin, Ramzi Maqdisi, Mo'min Swaitat, Paul Hamilton,
Annice Boporai
Aviatrix has been developed with the generous support of
Arts Council England, British Council, Ensemble 52 & Theatre
Delicatessen.
Performed at the Amy Johnson Festival & Theatre de Ménilmontant in
2017 with further R&D at The Palestinian National Theatre, Theatre
Delicatessen & The Albany in 2018