New Play Asks: What’s It Actually Like to Be an Immigrant

See Emmanuelle Delpech's Spinning Immigrant from June 15th to the 18th at FringeArts in Old City.

Photograph by Jauhien Sasnou

Photograph by Jauhien Sasnou

The current presidential saga has brought the subject of immigration to an unfortunate and incendiary head, but what’s it like to actually be an immigrant?

That’s the idea behind this world premiere from frequent Pig Iron Theatre Company collaborator Emmanuelle Delpech, who emigrated from France to Philadelphia in 1998.

“Coming to America was very confusing,” says the 43-year-old Brewerytown mom, who obtained citizenship in 2014. “Not understanding the idea of being an American. Not understanding anything, really.”

Delpech recorded interviews with other U.S. transplants and uses their voices throughout her one-woman show. But don’t expect a lot of talk about Mexican walls or a certain amusingly coiffed candidate: “It’s not a political show,” she insists. “It’s asking immigrants how does it feel to re-create home and what makes a home. I want to bring the voice of the people who are not really heard.”

For tickets to Spinning Immigrant go here.

Published as “Really Big Show” in Philadelphia magazine.