This innovative community theatre project contributes to the evolving practice of walking as performance (Mock 2009, Qualmann & Hind 2015), referencing walking research in Urban Studies (Mitchell 2003, Middleton 2010) in conjunction with laboratory theatre practice (Schino 2009) and socially engaged arts (Bishop 2012, Harvey 2013, Wickstrom 2012). Drawing on practices ranging from psychogeography and auto-ethnographic writing to embodied autobiographical training and performance (Carreri 2014, Magnat 2013), Göçmen Adımlar disrupts the boundaries between private studio and public street, laboratory and community theatre. Forging a methodology of performance research with non-professionals, the research contributes to key debates regarding the identification of methods and impact in practice as research, and participation and inclusivity in socially engaged arts and performance.

Echoing the growing significance of walking as a way of articulating and challenging the contemporary city, specifically from the perspective of the migrant woman, Saner led groups of Turkish-speaking London women on fortnightly walks beyond their neighbourhoods. Performer-training workshops then developed physical/vocal awareness and a shared performance vocabulary: an embodied practice of getting lost, moulding the Situationists’ dérive with Stanislavskian psychophysicality. Participants documented their experiences in notebooks which became the catalyst to a devising and rehearsal process, culminating in public performances marking International Women's Day (March 2014). Director, facilitator, performer-trainer and performer, Saner initiated the project, working in collaboration with DayMer Community Centre and the North London Community House.

The project’s dissemination continues through weekend workshops and screenings in collaboration with migrant women's organisations in the UK and Europe; international academic conferences and presentations; a book chapter co-authored with sociologist Saniye Dedeoğlu; and a commission from Laqup and Alma Teatro, Turin (Spazio Teatro, 2017-18).

Funded by Arts Council England and Goldsmiths University (Enterprise Fund). Winner of Walk 21 Vienna Walking Visionaries Award 2015 in Walking and the Arts.

Websites: http://www.migrantsteps.com/ and http://www.gocmenadimlar.com/

• Saner, Göze. 2014. Göçmen Adımlar / Migrant Steps. In: "Göçmen Adımlar / Migrant Steps", North London Community House, United Kingdom. [Performance]
• Saner, Göze and Erdogan, Alev. 2014. Göçmen Adımlar / Migrant Steps: Walking and Socially Engaged Performance. [Film/Video]
• Saner, Göze and Dedeoğlu, Saniye. 2017. Turkish/Kurdish Women’s Migrant Steps in London: Public Walks/Personal Returns. In: Gülçin Erdi Lelandais and Yıldırım Şentürk, eds. Identity, Justice and Resistance in the Neoliberal City. London: Palgrave, pp. 171-196. ISBN 9781349843602 [Book Section]
• Saner, Göze. 2015. Drifting as a Migrant Woman. Walk21 Conference Magazine, [Article]
• Saner, Göze and Yeni, Naz. 2018. Migrant Steps: Interview with Göze Saner. Book 2.0, 8(1-2), pp. 125-135. ISSN 2042-8022 [Article]

https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/17609