The Sky Is Safe
Reviews
Miriam Lazinnar, EdFest Magazine
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.
Claire Wood, The Wee Review
Both actors in Dogstar’s new production are superb, switching effortlessly between a myriad of characters. Dana Hajaj’s multiple women are presented with grace, compassion and perfectly pitched emotion. Directed by Ben Harrison, this is a pacey, polished and visually rich production. The set is minimal but well-used and enhanced beautifully by set designer Nihad Al Turk, a Syrian visual artist who moved to Scotland with his family from a refugee camp in Lebanon.
David Kettle, The List
This timely, urgent work is convincingly delivered by Zajac himself and Palestinian / Lebanese actor Dana Hajaj, and with an evocative set design by Nihad Al Turk… full of compelling fury and hope.