Theater returns to Aleppo amid war
Locals in rebel-held Aleppo defied air raids and artillery shells to see the first play to be held in the area since the Syrian uprising began.
ALEPPO, Syria — When you hear that a theatrical show will be performed in a rebel-controlled area of Aleppo, one might be forgiven for assuming it was a joke in the wake of destruction, devastation and death.
You smile and laugh a bit. Then, you look at the invitation card … Yes, there is a theatrical show on stage … a real stage, with sound effects, lighting and actors.
As you get ready to go to the hall you try to forget that Aleppo is the most dangerous city in the world, where the air raids are carried out on a daily basis, and the streets are almost empty. As you enter the hall, you regain life.
Tariq el-Khebez (Arabic for Bread Way) is a troupe founded by Salman Muhammad, a Syrian-Palestinian youth. Its first work is titled “Dakakeen” (Arabic for “Shops”), and will be performed for four days in one of the eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo, in an abandoned wedding hall located on one of the fronts. The name of the Tariq el-Khebez is a direct reference to New York’s Broadway.
