A children’s theatre group, which continues with its creative work under the guidance of Afrin Culture and Arts Centre in the city of Shahba in North East Syria, has recently finished its preparations for a theatre play.

The play, entitled ‘Repentance of the Fox,’ will have its première in Shahba. The play is more than an ordinary artistic production. It is a unique example of how the war-traumatised children of Afrin – who witnessed or even were subjected to the violence of the occupation forces in Afrin led by Turkey and Turkish backed militias and who were displaced from their homeland – have used the power of art and the collective spirit of solidarity as a form of therapy.

Not only the children, but also the adults, the displaced people of Afrin and the locals of Shahba – who have mobilised all efforts to welcome the displaced – have shown great interest in and welcomed the play.

‘The Repentance of the Fox’ will be staged in various refugee camps and villages of Shahba in the next few weeks.

Harin Muhammed, one of the children appearing in the play, told Jinha that the play tells the story of a cunning fox who always seeks to fool the other animals.

“We wanted to show with our play that the animals also have soul and a role in the balance of nature and that the existence of the animals cannot be disregarded by humans,” she said.

Another actress, Avin Rihani, said that the cast of the play is all-female because they wanted to show the power of women. “We have been working on this play for three months. The play features an all-female cast. Because women do not only have the power at home, but also in all public spaces,” she said.