Idlib

Let's start off making bread - the Syrian way. We will mix the dry ingredients, in a bowl bought in a Souk from Idlib before the troubles. Then we will add the water... then wait for it to rise.

While the yeast does its work, we will witness a brand-new real-life drama set in north-west Syria. The action takes place in a building with no electricity, no food, and a line of bullet holes in the wall. However, it is a story not of despair but of kindness.

Then we will take a breath, have a conversation about what we have seen and what is happening in our world. We will also explore the role of food in our own lives.

And when the bread is ready, cooked in front of our eyes, and the room is filled with the smell of freshly-baked bread, we will share it with our friends and neighbours - and enjoy it with Syrian Meze.

When he was in Turkey, writer Kevin Dyer was told by a Syrian refugee, 'Do not forget Syria'. This is our attempt to keep the proud people of that country in our minds - with food, good conversation and a story of hope.

About

Idlib is made by Storm in the North - a production company making arresting theatre for curious people. It seeks to energize, beguile and to tell the truth.

Kevin Dyer won the Writers' Guild of Great Britain Best Play award in 2022 for his play 'The Syrian Baker' which was derived from the monologue featured in Idlib.

Kevin is Associate Writer for Theatre Porto and has been Associate Artist at Farnham Maltings.

He writes, leads writing courses, is a poet and a story-teller.

He has been awarded the 'International Inspirational Playwright Award' by ASSITEJ at their World

Congress in Cape Town, won the Writers' Guild Award for Best Play for Young People and he has been shortlisted a dozen times for other awards.