A new play titled 'Refuge' explores the historical account of German refugees, known as the Irish Palatines, who settled in remote Irish villages in the early 18th century. These Germans fled religious persecution and near starvation in their homeland, arriving in Ireland as poor, conservative homesteaders who faced suspicion and violence.
The play is a co-production between Staatstheater Mainz and the Irish company Fishamble. It features a mixed cast, primarily performing in English with some German interludes, and is described as part love story and part social commentary. The narrative focuses on a German couple, Hannah and Peter, attempting to establish a life on farmland in Limerick, facing challenges due to their Protestantism and reluctance to integrate with the local Irish population.
The playwright, Deirdre Kinahan, stated that she was drawn to the topic because immigration is a crucial and divisive issue today. She noted that the forgotten story of the Palatines resonates with Ireland and Europe's current situation, leading her to include the story of a contemporary young Afghan boy in the play.
The production has been staged at the Dublin Theatre Festival and made a stop in Berlin at the request of the Irish ambassador, Maeve Collins. It is set to conclude in Mainz, the capital of Rhineland-Palatinate, the region from which most of the original settlers originated.