“My Home is a Suitcase” is a play by Rzgar Hama about individuals who sought new lives as immigrants. It is based out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. These are real stories. The next few interviews will be from some of the individual readers of their stories of beginning new lives in Canadian society. Hama is known for several plays, including “Soldierland” with some professional commentary by Dr. Marvin Westwood and Dr. George Belliveau of The University of British Columbia in “Dr. Marvin Westwood & Dr. George Belliveau on SOLDIERLAND a play Written and Directed by Rzgar Hama.” Here I speak with Georgete on “My Home is a Suitcase.”
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: How did you find the Sky Theatre Group?
Georgete: A friend of mine saw a note at the public library and thought I would want to try it.
Jacobsen: How did you become involved with “My Home is a Suitcase”?
Georgete: I submitted an application to Rzgar, but did not expect a response. Surprisingly, a few weeks later, I received an email from Rzgar, inviting me to join for the first meeting. I went to the meeting, met a few other members of the group. Rzgar explained what the project would be about and what it would require from us.
I became very interested as I do like to write. I thought it would be good for me to write my own story and share it with others.
Jacobsen: What was the experience of telling the story – without telling your story – to some of the public and peers who made a new life for themselves?
Georgete: At first, I thought it would be too much telling my story to strangers, but as I practiced over and over again; I became very confident and comfortable. The organizers decided that I would be the first in line to tell my story. I got nervous. I saw the audience coming in, and I kept practicing. when I started telling my story, I felt like I was just talking to a group of friends. I saw all of them paying attention to my story and I felt supported by them. In the end, I felt accomplished and relieved at the same time.
Jacobsen: What was working with a seasoned, veteran playwright and director like for you?
Georgete: I am so lucky to have met Rzgar. What a professional, talented, confident man, he creates a scene right on spot and gets us to do the acting part. I loved working with him during the writing of my story and telling my story. I will continue taking acting lessons from him and will be available for the final part of this project.
Jacobsen: What are you hoping some of the audience takes home with them when the final production comes out?
Georgete: I am hoping that the audience takes a different view of what immigrants are and what they had to go through before they made a decision to move to a foreign Country.
Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Georgete.
Georgete: Thank you so much for this valuable and important interview, Scott.
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
Image Credit: Soran Mardookhi, and Rzgar Hama/Sky Theatre Group.