We Deserve to Live Too
Live Show Description & Timeline
Story Overview
The piece follows a mother and her two daughters fleeing violence in their Congolese village.
During a nighttime rebel militia attack, the family is torn apart. The mother desperately tries to
protect her children, but in the chaos, they run in different directions. Three militia members,
represented through dance, hunt the family throughout the performance. Along the way, the
mother encounters an NGO worker who helps her search for her daughters. After moments of
despair, near capture, and relentless pursuit, the family is finally reunited at the end.
Characters
● Mother – central figure, guiding the emotional journey
● Three Daughters – children separated from their mother during the attack
● Four Soldiers – rebel militia, represented through dance and pursuit
● Refuge Point Representative – NGO worker who aids the mother and children
Timeline of Events (with Music & Dance)
0:00 – 0:22
The family is together, playfully interacting. The children laugh and play games outside while
their mother takes photos, capturing a joyful moment.
0:22 – 0:30
Soldiers enter from different directions on stage. They approach the mother, speaking to her
with growing menace. The tension escalates when one soldier tries to grab a child.
0:31 – 0:38
The mother pulls her child away and begins running around the stage. The soldiers chase after
them.
0:39 – 0:56
The family hides in the corner of the stage. Center stage, the soldiers perform a powerful,
menacing dance number.
0:56
The soldiers finish their dance and charge at the family. In the chaos, the mother and daughters
scatter—running in opposite directions.
1:11
The mother cautiously reappears center stage, fearful and scanning her surroundings for her
children.
1:20 – 1:29
She continues searching, her fear deepening as she realizes the children are gone.
1:31
Through expressive movement, the mother embodies grief and longing, her despair
underscored by haunting music. She performs a dance solo center stage.
1:38
The mother exits.
1:41
The daughters enter from opposite directions, weaving through the audience before stepping
onto the stage.
2:12 – 3:07
The children’s journey unfolds. Their fear, vulnerability, and resilience are portrayed through
movement. The older sister drags the younger one along, trying to protect her.
3:33
Scene shift: the mother arrives at a refugee camp, where she meets an NGO worker from
Refuge Point. Desperate, she pleads for help. The worker promises to search for her children
and exits into the audience to begin his quest.
3:56
The children reappear, running and weaving through the audience as militia chase them.
4:00 – 4:30
A high-intensity chase scene begins. The militia pursue the children in a dance sequence. One
daughter is captured, while the others escape and encounter the Refuge Point worker. He
shows them their mother’s photo and guides them to safety.
4:30
The worker shields the children from their pursuers and leads them back to their mother.
4:40 – 4:50
Climax & resolution. The children reunite with their mother in a tearful embrace. Relief turns to
heartbreak as the mother realizes one daughter is still missing. She searches frantically but
cannot find her.
4:50 – 4:58 (Finale)
The family embraces once more, clinging to hope and survival. Together, they walk slowly
offstage as the music swells, signaling the end of their harrowing journey.
Timeline of Events (with Music, Dance & Lighting)
0:00 – 0:22
Scene: Family together, joyful.
● Lighting Cue: Warm amber wash across stage, natural daylight feel. Soft, bright focus
on the family.
0:22 – 0:30
Scene: Soldiers enter, tension begins.
● Lighting Cue: Gradual shift to cooler, dimmer tones. A subtle red undertone creeps in
as soldiers approach.
0:31 – 0:38
Scene: Soldiers chase the family.
● Lighting Cue: Sharp white spotlights follow the mother and children as they run.
Flickering strobe-like flashes to mimic chaos.
0:39 – 0:56
Scene: Family hides; soldiers’ dance.
● Lighting Cue: Family in shadowed corner (dim sidelight). Soldiers in bright center-stage
spotlight with harsh red and white accents.
0:56
Scene: Family scatters.
● Lighting Cue: Sudden blackout for a beat, then cold blue side-lights reveal the
separation as each runs off in different directions.
1:11
Scene: Mother reappears, searching.
● Lighting Cue: Isolated soft spotlight center stage on the mother, surrounding stage
dimmed in deep blue.
1:20 – 1:29
Scene: Mother realizes children are gone.
● Lighting Cue: Spotlight flickers and slowly fades to near-darkness around her,
symbolizing despair.
1:31
Scene: Mother’s grief dance.
● Lighting Cue: Single stark white downlight on mother. Shadow effects amplify her
movements. Background remains dark.
1:38
Scene: Mother exits.
● Lighting Cue: Light fades with her exit, leaving stage in near blackness.
1:41
Scene: Daughters enter from audience.
● Lighting Cue: Moving spotlights follow them weaving through the audience. Stage
slowly fills with soft blue and pale white tones.
2:12 – 3:07
Scene: Children’s journey.
● Lighting Cue: Gentle cool wash with dim amber glows that come and go, reflecting both
danger and resilience.
3:33
Scene: Refugee camp; mother meets NGO worker.
● Lighting Cue: Warm amber and soft white tones to contrast earlier scenes. Refugee
camp feels like a “safe space.”
3:56
Scene: Children running, militia chasing.
● Lighting Cue: Rapid moving lights track children through the audience. Red chaser
lights highlight the militia.
4:00 – 4:30
Scene: Chase and partial capture.
● Lighting Cue: Intense red-and-white strobe effect during chase. One spotlight isolates
the captured daughter as others escape.
4:30
Scene: Refuge Point worker protects children.
● Lighting Cue: Harsh red light fades; warm light grows around worker and children.
Protective glow follows them back to safety.
4:40 – 4:50
Scene: Reunion with mother (but one missing).
● Lighting Cue: Warm amber spotlight on mother embracing her children. A dim cold blue
wash lingers on the empty space, symbolizing absence.
4:50 – 4:58 (Finale)
Scene: Family’s final embrace.
● Lighting Cue: Full warm stage wash, golden tones. Backlight intensifies to silhouette
the family as they walk offstage. Music swells to black out.
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