Zodwa Nyoni’s monologue, based on interviews with migrants, sets out to reveal some of the human detail of refugees lost amid the media hysteria News reports often present refugees as a swarming multitude, rather than grasping that each of them has a particular story. Zodwa Nyoni’s monologue, based on interviews with migrants, sets out to reveal some of the human detail lost amid the media hysteria, focusing on the experiences of Ishmael, a gay Zimbabwean seeking sanctuary in Britain. On a bare stage, with only a suitcase and lightbulb for company in Alex Chisholm’s intimate production, Ishmael is an isolated figure. Waiting to learn if he’ll be granted asylum, he navigates the peculiarities
Arcola theatre, London The portrayal of a gay Zimbabwean awaiting the outcome of his application is affecting and direct in Zodwa Nyoni’s monologue What does it feel like to be seeking sanctuary in the UK, and how are asylum seekers treated? Ishmael is a young gay man who flees Zimbabwe when his relationship with another man is discovered. Rejected by his former lover, who has already secured asylum and won’t speak up for him, Ishmael is sent to Leeds, where he awaits the outcome of his application, friendless and lonely in a damp flat with a broken bed, painfully eking out his £36 a week. The landlady won’t even shake his hand. “She owns everything in this flat, including my dignity,” he ob
Presenter: Samira Ahmed Producer: Elaine Lester. Samira Ahmed talks to director Quentin Tarantino about his new Western, The Hateful Eight, which stars Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Tim Roth and Jennifer Jason Leigh and is scored Ennio Morricone. Tarantino explains why he sees contemporary resonances in this period piece. The Hateful Eight is released on 8 January, certificate 18. The Costa Book Awards 2015 category winners are announced on Front Row tonight by the Chair of Judges, James Heneage. Following this, each night this week on Front Row, we will be talking to the individual winners and tonight's interview will be with the winner of the Novel Award. Zodwa Nyoni discusses the insp