Experience the world premiere of a powerful new English translation of Bodies Condemned by Oblivion (Cuerpos Desahuciados por el Olvido) by Colombian playwright, Jhonnathan Velasquez, presented as a rehearsed reading by local LGBTIQ+ actors from Oxford.
Set during Colombia’s armed conflict, the play follows two young men who are forcibly recruited into guerilla forces. As they navigate the violence and uncertainty of war, they must also confront their love for one another and the challenges of living authentically in a world shaped by conflict. Moving between moments of separation, memory and survival, this play offers an intimate portrait of resilience in the face of violence.
This special performance forms part of an international collaboration between artist from the UK, Colombia, and Mexico, exploring how queer communities use creativity to resist violence, preserve memory, and imagine new futures.
The second half of the evening is produced in collaboration with Queer Voices, from T(Art) Productions, featuring performances of work from local members of the LGBTIQ+ community reflecting on their own experiences of love in the margins. This will include works created in a workshop with the playwright and Mexican author Julio Diaz Calderon, reflecting on queer memories of violence, discrimination and joy. This partnership brings together theatre-makers, performers and community participants to reflect on shared experiences across cultures while recognising their distinct histories and contexts.
The evening concludes with a conversation featuring the performers and the creative team, exploring the role of queer storytelling, artistic collaboration and performance as acts of resistance.
