When the plane carrying Priya Nadaraja, Nades Murugappan and their two young daughters, Kopika and Tharnicaa, touched down in Biloela, Queensland, on 10 June, 2022, it brought one of the most remarkable sagas inspired by Australia’s immigration policies to a happy conclusion.

Waiting for the family at the airport were dozens of locals, many holding flowers and hand-painted signs that, in their various ways, said, “Welcome Home.” Among the crowd were the women who had devoted enormous energy and time to make this moment happen – neighbours-turned-activists who couldn’t live with the idea that a migrant family that was contributing much to the life of the town could be taken away and incarcerated.

It is this journey – from hopeful settlement to traumatic removal; from detention to return – that underpins Back to Bilo, a new work from Brisbane company Belloo Creative in association with Queensland Theatre premiering at this year’s Brisbane Festival.

Priya Nadaraja and Nades Murugappan. Photo © Stephanie Coombes

Co-directed by Caroline Dunphy and written by Katherine Lyall-Watson, the play tells a story that is at once local and national – a portrait of friendship, hope, resilience and people...