Scarabs at The Motley Bauhaus

Screams, rumbles, crumbling bricks. The fortress that was built to last centuries to house the ‘Scarabs’, collapses as the result of an earthquake. They’ve escaped…

The citizens, however, have been told by the authorities that the refugees broke through the walls to escape, which causes panic. Magical ‘jewels’ begin to fall upon them as the refugees flee, rupturing the dust and debris that was left behind the collapse.

Scarabs is a kaleidoscopic play addressing contemporary issues such as racism, discrimination and xenophobia, with an underlying foundation of hope, identity and strength.

According to playwright and director Julian Meyrick:

"Scarabs is a remarkable drama – clever, entertaining and constantly changing in direction and subverting audience expectations. The central metaphor at the heart of the play – that of the ancient Egyptian beetle, a symbol of rebirth, transformation and growth – operates as lens through which issues of migration, integration and otherness can be raised and explored. This witty combination of light-touch, almost vaudevillian performance, together with themes of great contemporary relevance, is the mark of the play’s quality. It “works” on the level of audience engagement. It is easy to watch. Yet it delivers a powerful content, and lingers in the mind longer after the play itself is over."