English families seek asylum in a 2025 touring theatre show depicting a dream to ‘make Britain Great’ that goes horribly wrong. The tour includes a homecoming show at Liverpool’s Unity Theatre.
Looking to change the narrative surrounding refugees in the UK, Afloat is a ‘theatre for social change’ project based on real stories collected by members of Liverpool organisation, Asylum Link. The show puts the audience in the position of seeking asylum and facing the daily struggles that come with that process.
Following a successful premiere last year, the tour of Afloat will include homecoming shows in Liverpool, 23 – 24 May.
By experiencing their journey first hand, the show aims to foster a deeper sense of empathy and compassion for those navigating the asylum process.
The show itself has been put together by industry professionals working alongside members of Asylum Link in workshops on all aspects of devising theatre. Together, they have crafted a performance that not only educates audiences on the asylum process but also highlights the importance of community cohesion and the transformative power of the arts.
Asylum Link Merseyside is an organisation dedicated to helping Asylum Seekers and Refugees, offering ‘a warm welcome, friendship and a place to belong’. Their vision is to build a society where Asylum Seekers are accepted, understood and welcomed, for the benefit of the whole community. The group provide resources and support, such as a food bank, courses, one-to-one support.
Following each performance, the audience will be able to engage in a thought-provoking post-show discussion, opening up a dialogue to explore how local people can collectively support asylum seekers in their own communities.
Phoebe McSweeney – Lead Artist on Afloat,said: I’m thrilled to be taking Afloat on tour and the process of adapting the show has been an amazing upskilling opportunity for our ensemble members. We are empowering their voices and educating audiences, and delivering hard-hitting messages in a format that allows our audience to digest.
Afloat is a show that encourages audience members to develop empathy for individuals seeking asylum, by putting them in the shoes of someone fleeing for safety, and exploring the effects this can have on a person.
Afloat is especially important now with the uprise of Reform UK, and is a response to the rise in right-wing sentiment and troubling riots that happened in 2024″
See the Unity Theatre’s website for more details and tickets