Teatro da curva, a Brazilian theatre group, deported from UK, although they had been invited to participate in the Camden Fringe Festival.
For those of you who read Portuguese, the original text can be found on the Blog post from August 18, 2010.
For the rest, here is my translation of their account:
Approximately 6 months ago, our company -Teatro da Curva – received an invitation from the Camden Fringe festival, in London, to present the show “Candide”, by Voltaire, directed by Ralph Maizza. We first put the play on in 2008, and showed it for 3 seasons in those two years. This invitation was the extension and crowning of a show produced with little means, but much dedication, professionalism and love. During these 6 months, we worked relentlessly and intensely to raise the funds to finance our trip, since there would be no financial compensation, as it was strictly about a cultural exchange. We managed to get the necessary funds, and adapted our play to attend to the specific needs of an English audience, so as to allow a wide understanding of the text without missing out on the substance.
Finally, we gathered all the necessary documentation, following the requirements of the British Immigration legislation and the advice of the festival, which sent us an official invitation, stating the names of all those involved, to present to the immigration services. Endebted to all those who helped us, we embarked to realise our dreams and aspirations. After a long 12 hours trip, we arrived tired, but very enthusiastic and happy, on English soil. At first, we were received cordially by the British immigration officials. We presented all the necessary documents, gave all the relevant explanations and were sincere, clear as to our objectives on British soil. We gave the officials our passports, the official invitation, the return tickets, the address at which we were to be accommodated and informed them of how much liquidity we had in pounds, which was more than enough to support us during our stay in London for the 10 days.
Whilst the immigration official was checking the documentation presented to him, we were led to another room, where we were interviewed and our bags searched, all in a polite manner, though some evasive questions were asked and invasive attitudes manifested ( for example asking what was written on a card wishing good trip that an actor's mother had given to him). After 5 hours of having been told by the officials that all this was standard procedure to enter British soil, we were told that we wouldn't be allowed into the country. The immigration agency made the alegationt hat we couldn't enter, because the festival was not registered on the official registry, and that therefore the festival had no right to invite us. Consequently, we would require a work permit. However, according to the conditions found on the site of British Immigration (which does display such a registry of Official Festivals), is allowed into the country any tourist or artist showing their work temporarily, within a 10 day window, without the need for a work permit, as long as they receive no payment for it. Though we were not allowed to comment, we told this to the Immigration offical, who very cynically and conceitedness, answered that we could enter as tourists, but not on this particular day, and would have to return the following one, should we wish to do so. During this time, representatives of the festival present at the airport were attempting to talk to the immigration agency, to confirm the truth of our statements, resolve the potential lack of an additional document and to explain that our situation was absolutely legal. Immigration, displaying radicalism and xenophobia, did not allow this communication to take place. From then on, the civility of the British officials transformed into an unjust and out-of-place hostility, since they were dealing with artists (tourists) in possession of all the required documentation, who had committed no crime. Finger prints were taken (whole hands), as well as pictures of all concerned, and we were refused any right to contest in a stupid and menacing manner. We got interrogated again, aggressively this time. No explanation was given. Security agents were called to prevent any form of demonstration on our part, when all we wanted was to discuss and understand what was happening. Requests for a shower, change clothes, or smoke a cigarette were refused abruptly, as was any form of communication with the local producer. Our mobiles phone were confiscated to prevent us taking pictures. We were then escorted by a number of security guards until we embarked the plane, to ensure we wouldn't open our luggages. They circled us at the gate in front of the rest of the passengers, until we entered the plane. We felt ashamed and humiliated, and as we boarded the plane to return, the English security guards greeted us with a cinical “bye” and a sarcastic smile.
It is important to note how welcoming the TAM staff and passengers were to us, as it is to say how calm and sympathetic the Federal Police were on arrival.
Regarding the lack of additional documentation which wasn't emitted by the festival, we have already taken the necessary steps. But it must be pointed out that this omission by the festival did not in any way make our situation illegal on entry of British soil.
We are writing this in order to clarify the facts, to avoid any doubts and distortions of what happened. Above all, we state here that our intention is not the financial compensation, but the expression of our sadness, indignation and feeling of impotence, since we feel embarrassed even though we haven't done anything wrong, humiliated and vanquished though we have not failed. It is impossible to describe the feeling of gratuitous rejection and injustice we experienced. But beyond it all, we want to do justice to our dignity. It is time to fight effectively against xenophobia, as it is to claim our rights as world citizens and artists.
Teatro da Curva
Celso Melez, Didio Perini, Flávia Tápias, Leandro D’Errico, Mariana Blanski, Ralph Maizza, Reynaldo Thomaz, Ricardo Gelli, Tadeu Pinheiro e Walter Figueiredo.
