In Syria, culture has become a line of defense against tyranny. The anthology Syria Speaks: Art and culture from the battle front (published in Arabic and English) is a window onto new writing which is documenting and interpreting the radical changes and desolate new reality in this Arab country.
 
Casa Árabe invites you to attend the dramatized reading of excerpts from the book, including the harrowing poetry of Golan Hajji, the musings of Aboud Said on Facebook, a report by Yara Badr on detention and an homage by Robin Yassin Kassab to a city he once knew. The readings are intermixed with the evocative music of Darawish, a group that performs a fusion of Mediterranean music with jazz. Their looks, sounds and words reveal a persistence in the aspirations of the Syrian people, despite a brutal conflict, which is now entering its fifth year, with no apparent end in sight.

Performers: Alia Alzougby, Taghrid Choucair Vizoso, Hicham Malayo, Aboud Said
Music: Darawish (Hames Bitar, Arabic oud; Pablo Hernandez, saxophone; Luis Taberna, percussion)
Directed by: Malu Halasa and Alia Alzougby

Amongst the performers in the show are Aboud Said, author of The Smartest Guy on Facebook. He will be signing copies of his book minutes before and after the performance.