大象传媒

A Syrian library, its owner and an aid worker - sharp debate about identity and politics. Gripping new drama by Dan Rebellato.

The last of three Afternoon Dramas, 'Somewhere' is about the mysterious disappearance of a British aid worker and its impact on the individuals involved. In this final play, set in the autumn of 2012, the complex ways in which the first and third worlds view each other are played out in a dramatic scenario.

Somewhere
A frightened western hostage finds herself in a beautiful library, the unwilling guest of a man of impeccable civility. An extraordinary conversation unfolds as the play asks how far the west and the east can understand each other; whether the Arab Spring is a projection of western liberal wish-fulfilment; and, when the music of Debussy is used as an act of prisoner abuse, how easily civilization can become a vehicle for brutality. Identities, politics, borders and boundaries blend and shift in a perpetual hall of mirrors. By the end, there are no answers, just a display of genuine compassion and yet more questions.

Dan Rebellato is a playwright and academic. His stage plays include Chekhov in Hell, Static, Whistleblower, Mile End, and Here Is What I Did With My Body One Day. Other radio work includes an adaptation of Dead Souls starring Michael Palin and Mark Heap. He is Professor of Contemporary Theatre at Royal Holloway University of London and has written widely on contemporary theatre.

Director ... Polly Thomas
Sound designer ... Nigel Lewis
PC ... Willa King
Writer ... Dan Rebellato
A 大象传媒 Cymru/Wales production for 大象传媒 Radio 4.