EdFRinge Reviews / Diary of an Expat at Underbelly Cowgate

Can you be Italian and at the same time eat thousands sausage rolls? Diary of an expat is a show on what it means to live between to countries.

Brexit and immigration are two trending topics in the news. Since the Brexit referendum, EU expats living in the UK have been put in the limelight, and no one knows what their fate will be. With Diary of an expat Cecilia Gragnani takes centre stage and tells the story of an Italian girl and her encouter with London- a contemporary El Dorado craved by generations of young Europeans.

At first everything about London is shiny and beautiful, but soon Cecilia experiences all the challenges, difficulties and confusions of those who finds themselves living between two worlds. She starts to question her identity, wondering whether one can become British while remaining Italian. When told to go back home, she questions where home is. Is it a place someone was born in, or is it the place one decides to settle in?

Gragnani explains the emotional and economical cost of calling London her home, and takes us through the stages of her quest for citizenship: from the paperwork, to the most absurd Life in the UK quiz questions. It’s a journey full of humor and fun, where Cecilia plays with stereotipical Italian and English behaviours, without taking herself too seriously. Everyone who travelled to a foreign country would relate to some of the stories she tells. From the luggage full of food, to the UK queing system or the difficulty in spelling her name right, we’ve all been there and we can relate.

It’s a fun play that raise important questions on boarders and what it means to be foreign. Cecilia’s writing is witty and compelling, and her performance draws the audience into her story, allowing them to see life through her point of view.

The set is simple yet effective in creating a London’s vibe on stage, and Katharina Reinthaller direction allows Cecilia to play through different atmospheres, avoiding monotonos.

It’s a show that will make you think, and will allow you to see things from a different perspective.