Borders הגדר ألسياج
Junction Theatre is proud to present our debut production - Borders!
Borders is a play about a Grindr encounter between two potential enemies, written by Nimrod Danishman.
Boaz and George meet on Grindr. One in Israel, the other in Lebanon. Though they can't hook up physically, something in their conversation excites them both. The distance, the “enemy”, the foreignness, the other's stories. They both fill a void in the other, fostering a secret love, but as their urge to meet increases, the border between the countries heats up.
Borders Hebrew production directed by Danishman himself was nominated for Israel Fringe Awards and toured the country. A critically acclaimed production of the English translation is produced by Dirty Laundry Theatre, New York. A German translation premiered at Mainfranken Theater Würzburg in 2021.
In her directorial debut, Neta Gracewell introduces this play to UK audiences.
Inspired by a real encounter, Borders brings an untold story that questions how the circumstances we're born into affect our ability to connect.
After its London premiere as part of VAULT Festival 2022 transfer season at Drayton Arms in February 2022, that saw SOLD OUT auditorium and rave 5 star reviews -
Borders הגדר ألسياج smashed it at
VAULT FESTIVAL 2023!
Thank you to everyone who joined us!
All That Dazzles
London Theatre Reviews
Theatre and Other Things
West End Best Friend
Broadway World
Theatre Weekly
Lou Reviews
The Reviews Hub
Fringebiscuit
"An inspired and inspiring debut play... Neta Gracewell directs the script into a fully formed and concise production with a clear-cut vision."
- Broadway World
"All aspects of the production from the writing, direction, design and performances are tender in their execution, creating great intimacy on stage between the two men"
- West End Best Friend
“absorbing, insightful, dramatic and unique"
- Theatre and Other Things
"Original, heartfelt and darkly funny...The direction by Neta Gracewell and writing by Nimrod Danishman compliment each other perfectly"
- London Theatre Reviews
"Nimrod Danishman’s play is intimate, funny, tender, harsh, and everything in between. Neta Gracewell’s direction addresses the heart of the piece and creates a world of shadows, movement, hope, and the chance to be who you are...
It is an electric debut and a definite hit."
- Lou Reviews
"the chemistry between the two characters is electrifying."
- The Reviews Hub
"Yaniv Yafe and Tarik Badwan both give beautfully nuanced performances"
-There Ought To Be Clowns
Audience Praise for Borders ألسياج הגדר
“Very emotional and real”
“Authentic, genuine and very hot!”
"The usual Grindr chemistry peeled away to present something that I've not seen before, a fresh study of how geopolitics, values and desires can all impair what should be a simple, enduring yearning."
“Great illustration of a cultural and social context not many people in the UK are familiar with”
“Memorable and heartfelt performance, well acted and executed”
“An emotional account of falling in love amidst politics, borders, violence”
"The difficulties of inter-racial/cultural relationships was brilliant."
“A deeper and more personal insight into life in the Middle East and how conflict impacts individuals”
“How lucky we are to live, be different and be open without punishment”
Production photos by Lidia Crisafulli, Alex Powell and Ethan Cheek
Behind the production is a migrant and queer led team that embodies crossing cultural and national borders in their very practice!
CAST
George
Tarik Badwan
Boaz
Yaniv Yafe
George was previously performed by Joseph Samimi & Karim Hadaya
CREATIVES
Writer:
Nimrod Danishman
Director:
Neta Gracewell
Original Music:
Bar Harel
Set & Costume Design:
Ethan Cheek
Movement Director:
Adi Gortler
Producer & Stage Manager: Maria Majeska
Translator:
Adi Drori
Lighting Design:
Cheng Keng
Graphic Design:
Shachar Tzin
Dramaturgy:
Diana Miranda
Thank you to VAULT Festival for their support. A huge thank you to Arts Council England without which we wouldn't be able to bring Borders to VAULT 2023.
We would like to thank Shout Festival for generously supporting the first R&D of Borders.
Thank you to NDT Broadgate for enabling the creation of Borders and to Nouveau Riche who had also donated their space to us.
We'd also like to thank Migrants in Theatre and MENA ARTS UK for their creation of platforms that encourage and enable artists from marginalized backgrounds to keep creating, and their relentless work in advocating for better representation on UK stages.
Special thanks to Ron Chen-Tov, Alex Gomar, Joseph Samimi and Karim Motaz.
And finally, a huge thank you goes to our wonderful crowdfunder supporters:
Ron Tzin, Eilat Tzin, Ron Chen-Tov, Nitzan Chen-Tov, Iris Medina, Nushi Yafe, Idan Hod, Gila Hayat and everyone else who has so generously chipped in. We wouldn't have done it without you <3