THE SKY IS SAFE by Matthew Zajac

Image 'Sara' © Nihad al Turk

THE SKY IS SAFE wins the first of Summerhall's 2017 Lustrum Awards !

Edinburgh Festivals Magazine (Miriam Larrainzar) ✭✭✭✭✭
​Actor and playwright Matthew Zajac returned to Scotland from a failed job opportunity in Istanbul back in 2012, resulting in the idea behind The Sky is Safe being born. The Sky is Safe is an emotionally charged and politically powerful masterpiece.  It tells the story of the meeting between a privileged westerner and a Syrian refugee who meet in Istanbul. Embedded in the dialogue are the sub-stories of many Syrian refugee women and the horrors and scars of war. Matthew Zajac has written a beautiful and accessible script about the Syrian tragedy. The poetic language used – plus the beauty and brutality of the captivating images created by director Ben Harrison – produce such juxtaposition and potent intensity, making the audience uncomfortable as they sit at the edge of their seats aware of their safety and fortunate circumstances. The energy and chemistry between both performers, including Zajac himself, is hypnotising. The other half of the two-hander, Dana Hajal, gives an extraordinary and emotionally draining performance, effectively bringing the stories of these women to life. Furthermore, the show is visually clever, with graffiti art-like animation and street POV videos projected onto the set, allowing the city of Istanbul to come to life right in front of our eyes. The Sky is Safe is far from a shy production; it is a shameless shout out to the reality and pain of many. If you are willing to open your eyes and be taken through an emotional journey which will shake you to your core, book your tickets now. 
​READ THE FULL REVIEW


Common Space (Tara Fitzpatrick)
"The Sky is Safe feels like necessary theatre, the type which does not wish to comfort its audience or sugar-coat. Yet, despite leaving viewers both heartbroken and enraged, the play ends, appropriately, on the word “hope”."

​ "The set, designed by renowned Syrian Kurdish artist Nihad Al Turk, is simplistic with sandy stone walls shaping the surroundings of the stage. The front wall, facing the audience, projects Al Turk’s illustrations, brought to life by video designer Time Reid. One of the images (a young girl with pigtails holding her fingers in a peace sign) has become the startling poster for the play, plastered around the flyer-clad walls of Edinburgh. "
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The Wee Review (Claire Wood)
"Matthew Zajac is a man with a heart, an ear for a story and a fierce sense of justice. His previous show, The Tailor of Inverness, was a stunning example of storytelling based on real life. And his new show is no different".
​READ THE FULL REVIEW


June and Winter Magazine (Tara Fitzpatrick)
"Harrowing and insightful, The Sky is Safe is an anti-war play which gauges with the effects of British corporate interests in the Middle East. Yet the play’s focus is almost entirely on the experiences of women, exploring the ramifications of wars, started primarily by men, on the lives of the female population".
​READ THE FULL REVIEW

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The List
 Matthew Zajac's at times harrowing two-hander from Highlands-based Dogstar Theatre  looks at the Syrian conflict firmly from a woman's perspective – in fact, from that of several women. Woven in among the dark drama of Gordon and Amal's liaison are the agonising testimonies from other Syrian women, forced to betray their husbands, or abused at army checkpoints, or whose infants are the targets of snipers.  "full of compelling fury and hope".


David from Portugal - audience member
"A great performance. Very touching. It reveals the true stories of real lives of the ones who suffer with the war in Syria. It helps to understand a bit what happens with the refugees we see in the news but whose stories no one listens to".


Una from Scotland - audience member
"Beautiful set design and use of music, poetry and multimedia which set the story off really well. The two actors were excellent in their interactions and story powerfully told and certainly hits home".

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Marcus from Scotland - audience member
A powerful reminder of what is happening in Syria and Turkey today. We attended with two Syrian refugees.
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GO TO OUR REVIEWS PAGE (UPDATED AS WE GO)

with Dana Hajaj & Matthew Zajac
Director:  Ben Harrison   Set:  Nihad Al Turk   Costume:   Ali Maclaurin   Music & Sound:  Pippa Murphy  
 Video:  Tim Reid   Choreography:  Dawn Hartley
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World Premiere: Edinburgh Festival Fringe Summerhall followed by a tour of Scotland from August 31 to September 23
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Dogstar is a European touring theatre company based in the Scottish Highlands around Inverness, one of Europe’s fastest growing small cities.  We commission, produce and tour new plays by writers from the north of Scotland and elsewhere.  We aim to present our varied audiences with engaging and entertaining theatre which combines the new and the traditional, the classical and the experimental, drawing on accumulated experience and contemporary innovation.

​From its early Highland tours, the company has extended its reach, now touring across the UK and internationally, with over 170 performances outside Scotland since 2009. These include work presented at Copenhagen Stage Festival Denmark, Umea 2014 European Capital of Culture Sweden, Konfrontacje Teatralne Lublin Poland, Ivan Franko National Theatre Kyiv Ukraine, Les Kurbas Theatre Lviv Ukraine, Malmo Stadsteater Sweden, Brits Off Broadway New York USA, Adelaide Fringe Festival Australia, Societaetstheater Dresden Germany, English Theatre Berlin Germany, Pavilion Theatre Dun Laoighaire Ireland, Clwyd Teatr Cymru Wales, Birmingham Rep England, and Mungo Park AC Denmark. Dogstar  continues to tour to village halls in the Scottish Highlands and Islands as well as to city centre theatres.
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Much of our work springs directly from the Highlands’ defining characteristics: a stunningly beautiful and harsh natural landscape; a tumultuous and marginalised history; a shifting and changing population; a vibrant oral and musical tradition.  Our productions endeavour to speak to our audiences using some of Scotland’s best actors, musicians, writers, directors and designers, collaborating with international artists and partners.  For us, theatre is a place for debate and celebration, for ideas and entertainment, for a few laughs, a few tears, a challenge to the mind and a memorable night out.  At its heart, its about communication between the actor and the audience.  It can’t exist without you. 

​Visit our Blog page where you can read about our recent touring productions and other work.  On other pages, you can also find out a whole lot more about the company's history, productions, touring and people, watch trailers, view photo galleries and find out how to contact us.

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