The Container, a production by Clare Bayley, was performed live in a real shipping container right outside of London's Young Vic Theatre and made available through Digital Theatre +.
Written by Willa Wu
The director of this production, Tom Wright, sought to explore the disturbing truths of asylum seekers through the setting of a shipping container. Throughout this production, he adopted a very realistic feel to the audience by having the performance take place in an actual shipping container.
The production begins with five individuals in a shipping container, conversing about the hardships of being a refugee and wondering what England is going to be like. They constantly argue, fighting over everything, whether it be who gets the food or who has lived a harder life and deserves more. There are three women, two from Somalia and one from Afghanistan. The two men come from Afghanistan and Kurdistan. The refugees, low on food and water, must work together to survive. The differences in their backgrounds make this difficult, although they all try their hardest.
The acting was done with many props, but in a very small space. The shipping container is used to its maximum potential by using every bit of the space. Although there is little space to move, the actors are able to move around and converse in different parts of the shipping container. The use of props, such as a purse or drinking water, paint the scene to be the most realistic play I have seen thus far. The lighting, purely done with flashlights, creates a grim mood that continues throughout the play.
The design of the set was perhaps my favorite aspect of the production. The audience, which I could occasionally spot, were scattered around the actors in the small shipping container. The claustrophobic environment provides, although extremely uncomfortable, an authentic experience. The camera angles make the set seem more like a movie than a play. The closeups make the play even more intimate than it already is. The small audience is a smart design option for this play; with a larger audience, you lose the intimacy that a small audience provides.
It was not imperative that this production was to be watched online, as it was recorded in English. However, I would much rather have watched this play in person to be able to experience the raw feel of being inside an actual shipping container. Although I would have felt uncomfortable at times, I believe that it was the intention of the play to make the audience feel that way. After the play ended, I was frustrated that it left on a cliffhanger, but then appreciated that it did not have a definite ending. After all, not everyones' story ends the same way. This way, the play can be generalized and more applicable to others.
The disturbing nature of the play highlights the struggles that refugees face. Whether it be the struggle for food, lying middleman, rape, or the tricky laws, the sacrifice they make is unparalleled. Mariam, in her desperation to continue on the route despite not being able to pay, sacrificed herself, and yet still was unable to continue. The sad reality that many refugees face is frightening.