Haptic Pictures

Babylon

Babylon: Journey’s of Refugees

Sandglass Theater’s ‘Babylon: Journey’s of Refugees” is an action-packed, high-energy production created in response to the worldwide refugee crisis and its impact on communities in the United States. Working with the USCRI Vermont (US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants), we seek to understand the challenges that face refugees and asylum seekers. Sandglass conducted research and interviews with new residents who immigrated to the US in order to gain insight into their plight and the challenges of resettlement. Using puppets and moving panoramic scrolls, five actor/singer/puppeteers tell refugees’ stories in original four-part choral songs. Sandglass worked in collaboration with Haptic Pictures to adapt their live production to film. 

Client

Sandglass Theater

Credits

  • Created by Sandglass Theater
  • Filmed by Haptic Pictures
  • Directed by Eric Bass
  • Directorial Collaborator for first staging Roberto Salomon
  • Designed by Ines Zeller Bass
  • The Ensemble: Shoshana Bass, Kalob Martinez, Raphael Sacks, Divyamaan Sahoo, Kaitee Yaeko Tredway
  • Puppets by Ines Zeller Bass with Jana Zeller
  • Crankies by Ines Zeller Bass and Jana Zeller
  • Songs composed by Brendan Taaffe
  • Lyrics by Eric Bass
  • Percussion score by Julian Gerstin
  • Choral Director Becky Graber, Rapheal Sacks
  • Artistic Collaboration Rowan Ching, Ron Domingo, Molly Gawler, Jay Gelter, Dey Hernandez, Terrell Jones, Linda Tardif, Alan White
  • Immigration interviewer Keeley Eastly
  • Voice recording by Finn Campman
  • Projection and Sound design by Maria Pugnetti
  • Set building Zak Grace
  • Touring Technical Direction by Jamie Keithline
  • Conflict Transformation Training John Ungerleider
  • Filming Technical Direction by Maria Pugnetti

Created in cooperation with USCRI Vermont:

  • Amila Merdzanovic, Director
  • Laurie Stavrand, Program Officer

Thanks to Dina Nayeri for the use of her texts from “The Ungrateful Refugee,” as published in The Guardian in 2017.

Thank you to the many refugees from Afghanistan, Bhutan, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, and Somalia who told us their stories.