In October this year, St Martins will transport a unique theatre project to Signal, Melbourne’s newest arts space for young people. Young people from many of Melbourne’s emerging communities will land at Signal to share their experiences of departing home and arriving in Australia to begin a new life.

Lead by director Olivia Allen the performance will capture experiences of hope and belonging to create a touching performance event. According to project participant Flori, perceptions of a new life in Melbourne are changing:

‘When I arrived people were like monsters to me, but I wasn’t right, here you have a lot of friendly people. I’m on the top of the world. I always believe in hope and now I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. This light is friends, your job, your education and everything you do well. The tunnel is this amazing gigantic city. The city is Melbourne.’

The participants come from a vast array of cultural backgrounds including; Albania, Liberia, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Vietnam. Content for the performance has been generated through sharing stories, writing poems, collecting images and photographs with St Martins’ members.

Arrivals and Departures is the first off site production for St Martins in 2009 and carries the company’s vision of bringing hands on, performing arts experiences of the highest calibre to all young people wishing to express themselves and engage in their world. Arrivals and Departures is funded by the City of Melbourne through its 2009 Community Cultural Development Arts Grants Program and runs from October 23 to 25. For more information visit www.stmartinsyouth.com.au or call (03) 9867 2477.

For more information on the new SIGNAL arts space visit http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/info.cfm?top=75&pg=3087