The Trojans at Platform, Glasgow

Centuries after it was first written and became one of the great works of anti-war fiction, Euripedes’ The Trojan Women has been renewed like never before. Telling the story of families torn apart by war, Euripedes words are still applicable to the lives of thousands of refugees, thousands of years later, so who better to interpret it than refugees themselves. ‘The Trojans’ is an astounding new show from Trojan Women Scotland in collaboration with Terra Incognita, written and performed by Syrian refugees living in Glasgow. The show was a unique experience where the emotional weight of the performance took over the entire auditorium, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the place all the way from backstage to the bar.  

The word ‘Trojan’ connotes strength, durability, and the refugees’ stories reinforce the implications of the title perfectly. I didn’t care that their lines were being prompted from off stage, or that occasionally the technical elements were faulty, because that wasn’t the point. These stories of courage and solidarity deserved a platform that did not involve a headline; a place to tell their story untainted by news reporters. And what’s more, some of these stories are the works of fiction that we celebrate. A couple who fell in love while one was hiding in the other’s basement from authorities; a baby born on British soil when they were finally reunited. We celebrate these kinds of narratives when they are candy-coated for us on a cinema screen without realising that our political system is destroying realities such as this on a daily basis. 

The performance was by no means sophisticated, however I was entirely compelled by the collection of experiences from men and women, young and old. Although the subtitles had some technical issues, I was glad that the effort was made to allow many of the performers to speak in their native language. The tone of the show was not purely about suffering and loss of loved ones, but the irrevocable fact that those on stage will potentially never return to their home. I found myself reflecting on how lucky I was to have a home that is both somewhere I love and somewhere I feel safe, and in this performance I felt a shred of what it might be like to lose that luxury.

‘The Trojans’ taps into what is lacking in so many Western citizens- empathy. Many who criticise the refugee crisis cannot empathise with the thousands of people flocking to our country because they cannot understand, and ‘The Trojans’ begins a journey of bridging that gap. It warmed my heart to know that Britain is providing a new sanctuary for many refugees, however we can’t forget that this is still not the case for so many. In ’The Trojans’ we see a considerate effort to make its subjects be heard, and the sobbing and standing ovation clearly shows that they were heard. Loud and clear because in Glasgow, refugees are welcome here. 


Photo Credit The Trojan Women from https://www.platform-online.co.uk/whats-on/event/556