All-female Cast of Syrian Refugees Bring Euripides Adaptation QUEENS OF SYRIA to the UK

Developing Artists, Refuge Productions and the Young Vic have united to bring QUEENS OF SYRIA to the UK. The play, an adaptation of Euripides' great anti-war treatise Trojan Women, was first staged in Amman in 2013 and became the subject of an award-winning documentary. The all-female cast of Syrian refugees will open at the Young Vic in July before embarking on a three-week UK tour, with stops including Oxford, Brighton, Liverpool, Leeds and Edinburgh.

The cast skilfully amalgamate their own narratives of ferocious war and bitter exile with the ancient Greek text. Their experience of displacement and turmoil brings fresh relevance to Euripides' tragedy, and the play is fused with scenes from the documentary to create a piece of extraordinary multimedia theatre. This will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the refugees themselves, and a revelatory experience for British audiences who will hear first-hand the harsh realities of life as a refugee.

Louise Chantal, director of Oxford Playhouse, said: "It's a privilege to be working with Developing Artists and Refuge Productions to help bring this important project to Oxford, both on film and on the stage. I can't help thinking that Queens of Syria might be the most important theatre project of the year."

It's been an extraordinary experience for the cast members as well, explains Khaula. "We came into a new society, a new way of life: we were isolated. Doing this play helped us break the ice; we started to connect with others and make friends. It gave us the courage we needed to talk about our problems frankly and clearly. We feel that we can do something for Syria, and the Syrian people, by sending a message to the whole world - hopefully someone can help us end this tragedy."

Another cast member, Maha, adds: "Doing the play impacted our lives in so many ways. Now, we are all Trojan."

Queens of Syria is at the Young Vic July 5-9. For more information and to book tickets, call 0207 922 2922 or visit www.youngvic.org

July UK TOUR DATES:

11th - 12th Oxford: North Wall in association with Oxford Playhouse

13th - 14th Brighton: Attenborough Centre, Sussex University

15th - 16th Liverpool: Everyman - opening the Liverpool Arab Arts Festival

18th: Leeds: West Yorkshire Playhouse

19th-20th: Edinburgh: Assembly Roxy

21st: Durham: Assembly Rooms, Durham University

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