Sapeurs

In the two Congos, there’s a cultural movement, the Society of Ambience-Makers and Elegant People (Sape), known as Sapeurs. These are people who blend fashion, culture and social resistance.‍

Sapeurs is a show about Barrow. It is about home, belonging and people's attitudes to immigration, both negative and positive. It tells everyone’s stories: the people born and bred here and people coming here from away.

We all have ideas in our heads about who migrants are, how they got here and why they came here. This new piece of musical theatre, commissioned especially for the IF! Festival, tells the real stories of migrants and gives voice to the concerns of Barrovians as well.

For the past 18 months award-winning writer Kevin Fegan (author of 25 Words) has been talking and listening to refugees, asylum seekers, those who work with them and members of the community. The result is a joyful, life-affirming show for our town in a challenging and divided world. Sapeurs features the North West Music Academy's Rock and Pop choir and a large community cast.

Barrow Town Hall
Banqueting Suite
5 and 6 March 2026

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