The Perfect Immigrant

Samuel Yakura

Feb 27, 20242 min read

What else does a young Black man have to say if it isn’t about racism?

After a sold-out run at The New Theatre, Dublin Fringe Festival 2022 and a short run at Smock Alley 2022, The Perfect Immigrant play embarked on an all Ireland tour in 2023.

Originally commissioned by Dublin Fringe Festival, this project was part of Weft, funded by the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon through the Open Call initiative for 2021. Developed with the support of Fishamble’s New Play Clinic, the 2023 tour was funded by Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon.

The Perfect Immigrant follows Levi, a young Nigerian man pursuing a masters degree in Dublin, as he encounters the everyday obstacles of being an immigrant in Ireland while carrying with him the (literal and emotional) baggage from home. The script moves fluidly between comedy and heartbreak, as Levi learns the meaning of "what's the craic," tries his best to make ogbono soup in Dublin, and feels the sting of a tense relationship to his father. With a story woven through prose, poetry, music and movement, audiences shift in their seats, teased by the discomfort of this immigrant settling into a new land. Levi confronts how his loyalty to home is torn by the promise of the new.

‘This witty and carefully crafted confessional show, sliced up via fervent spoken word poems, centres on family dynamics, the experience of emigrating to a foreign land, and the feeling of being an outsider for the first time.’ ★★★★ Buzz.ie

‘Yakura’s greatest strengths being his honesty and presence, which makes the entire audience feel connected.’ ★★★★ Arts Review

‘As a Nigerian in Ireland, Levi is being constantly othered: his reciprocal othering of Irish culture is effective and funny.’ Irish Times