A Bench On The Road

Based on real testimonies, A Bench on the Road is a rich piece of musical and visual storytelling which explores women’s experience of immigration through the lens of Scottish-Italian immigrants from 1850-1950. The play tells stories of Scottish and Italian women divided, yet united, in battle for identity and belonging.

Spanning a century of unprecedented radical change, the diverse experiences of women from both cultures intertwine. Based on hundreds of interviews collected over thirty years, this play brings to life stories of our mothers, unlocking the past and asking pertinent questions about our future.

Weaving together folk music from the Scottish and Italian traditions, the piece employs bold Kantoreque visuals and an innovative and experimental merging of language and dialect. Whilst coming from a particular bi-cultural perspective, the piece strikes at the heart of the public debate around immigration and changing notions of identity in Europe.