Bodies of Water
Deputy Stage Manager
Director: Matthew Xia
Sharing the stories of those who have travelled across land and water to seek refuge, the things we think we know and the things we’re told to believe… Opening our hearts and minds to listen, to really listen.
Staged on the banks of the Thames, this theatrical experience mixes the soul-stirring poetry of Warsan Shire (Beyoncé’s Lemonade and Black is King) with live performance directed by Olivier-winning director Matthew Xia, dramaturgy by Francesca Beard (Post-Truth Apocalypse) and live music by Britain’s most celebrated Oud player Rihab Azar.
Devised with arts and community partners from across South East London, Bodies of Water marks the fourth collaboration between Greenwich+Docklands International Festival and Actors Touring Company following the critically acclaimed sell-out production of The Architect (2023), Family Tree (2021) and 846 Live (2020).
Cast & Creatives
Narrator Laila Alj
Composer and Musician Rihab Azar
Participants All Change Arts, Creating Ground,
Women for Refugee Women ,
Woolwich Common Community Centre
Featuring The Gold Vocal Collective
Conceived & Directed Matthew Xia
Lead Facilitator & Dramaturg Francesca Beard
Composer & Musician Rihab Azar
Set & Costume Designer Simon Kenny
Associate Facilitator & Associate Director Alessandra Davison
Wellbeing Practitioner Sadia Ibrahim
Main Image Guy Sanders
Rehearsal Photographer & Videographer Amir Hussian Ibrahimi
Production Manager James Boyer Smith
Company Stage Manager Sylvia Darkwa-Ohemeng
Deputy Stage Manager Paris Linxuan Wu
Assistant Stage Manager Laura Dewhirst
Participation Producer Vicky Moran
