"Kin" by Gecko.
Ipswich based Gecko present an interesting and emotional, almost script less, piece of dance performance about migration and The Holocaust.
The performers represent the migrants and border guards, in a progression of dreamlike sequences surrounding two families. It is hinted that the families are from the Middle East and Asia and are fleeing persecution and looking for a better life. There are moments of upset and frustration at separation but then moments of joy in reunion. Individuals are interrogated, humiliated, incarcerated. Violence isn't explicitly shown but creates that image in your mind via the flashbacks and slow motion action. 
Some of them get through borders, others don’t, also hinting at racism. All this is intimated through music and dance. It's almost like ballet where the story is told through the music as well as the actor's talents for story telling.
One of the most interesting and evocative scenes involve puppetry where they recreate scenes from the memories of the Holocaust survivors.
Another very emotional section, which, to be honest, was quite difficult to watch, was where they blanched several of the skins to make them look more "white" in order for them to get through the checkpoints and barriers.
There was also a scene where a man with mental health issues was humiliated and taunted to the extreme that he started lashing out. He was also beaten. This scene was incredibly well done with the use of strobe lighting so that we didn't see actual contact, and also indicated the rate and tenacity of the beating by the speed of the lighting.
The despair, frustration and anger of the breaking of the family unit, just for the search of a better, safer life really hits home with this piece of theatre, and you rejoice with the characters when the family unit is made good once more.
The performers are Madeleine Fairminer, Vanessa Guevera Flores, Saju Hari, Wai Shan Vivian Luk, Miguel Hernando Torres Umba, Mario Patron, Reyen Perkins-Gangnes and Kenny Wing Tao Ho.
I sincerely hope that I have the above names correct, and also the credits below. There were no programmes so I've not been able to 100% confirm these details but have found credits online. Apologies if they are incorrect.
Directed by Amit Lahav. You can feel the love at the heart of this production, as well as the emotion. Being so close to the reality of the situation must not have been easy, but we need this kind of theatre to educate us going forward so that the mistakes of the past don't get repeated.
Set and Costume Design: Rhys Jarman.
The Set and Costume Design is by Rhys Jarman.
The original music is by Dave Price. Music is one of the most evocative mediums ever, and believe me this soundtrack takes you from Ukranian folk music, and the magic and excitement of life, and then brings you down so low, reminiscent of Tchaikovsky most tragic of pieces.
Lighting Design is by Chris Swain, and I've always said that the lighting design can really make a play. This lighting design is one that helps do that. The strobe effect creates a certain intensity and madness, while the moon passing from one side of the stage to the other brings around the pace of life for the characters. Chris Swain is a lighting legend throughout.
Sound Design by Mark Melville. To start with I thought that the sound was a bit too loud, but then it hit me that the sound is as loud as it was to create the impact it did; it makes you sit up and take notice, almost like when you daydream and someone wakes you from that dream by yelling at you. The sound created the same impact as the lighting did. It makes you look and listen and pay attention; the whole aim of this piece.
This is one piece of theatre that you need to take your children to see because they will be educated and entertained.
"Kin" is at the Nottingham Playhouse until Saturday 14 October.
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