Nerve Centre to screen film charting the harrowing journey faced by refugees

A powerful film focusing on the traumatic journeys of refugees will make its Northern Ireland premiere in Derry’s Nerve Centre this week.
‘The Boat’ is the creation of The Boat Collective, a theatre group with its roots in Europe’s largest and most inhumane refugee camp, Moria on Lesvos island in Greece.
The film, produced for the big screen from a non-verbal theatre performance, explores multiple themes - from the creation of humans, the treacherous journeys of forced migration, the protection of children and the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community.
“We started our collective artistic journey to cope with the difficulties we experienced and our efforts to develop environments for social support, creative expression and connection at a time when it was needed the most,” said writer and theatre producer Iman Alidoosti ahead of The Boat’s screening at The Nerve Centre on May 6.
“The volatile situation refugees are forced to live in, considering the policies and practices of deterrence implemented in Greece, left most members of our collective living in limbo for years.
“Yet we managed to nurture safe spaces for artistic expression and bonds which gave us the opportunity to support each other with the challenges around us.
“Over the two years in Lesvos we grew into a close-knit network of artists, debuting our own self-led performance ‘The Boat’ in August 2021.
“The Boat was an interdisciplinary theatre performance connecting various forms of non-verbal art including acting, dance, and music/sound to explore themes of inequality and inhumanity in today's global society.
“August 2021 was a stepping stone for our collective but also a turning point. Changing policies, practices and procedures allowed the majority of our collective to leave Lesvos. Some of us have moved to Athens, while others have sought protection and opportunities in other countries including Germany, Switzerland and Italy.”
The Boat Collective has since relocated from Lesvos to Athens, where it is stationed as ‘The Boat Art Centre’, offering free classes and workshops in theatre, dance, music, yoga and more. It flourishes as a community space for self-empowerment through creativity and is constantly expanding in its outreach.
Responsible for bringing The Boat to The Nerve Centre is North West Migrants Forum volunteer Cara Gilliland who spent time in Athens working directly with The Boat Collective. Cara said she hoped the screening would open people up to empathising with the graveness of the migration experience.
“Art is an essential tool in the struggle for justice. It levels us all out in our common humanity and allows people to be guided by their hearts.”
The Boat will be shown in The Nerve Centre on May 6 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £5 with all proceeds going to The Boat Collective. They are available to buy here: Buy tickets – Screening of 'The Boat' Performance – Nerve Centre