Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Syrian Spring | 20200720 | In Damascus, during 2011, a group of friends must decide whether to join the uprising as the Arab Spring reaches Syria. Hope for change is tempered by the strictly controlled day-to-day reality of life in Syria under Bashar al Assad. ~Yarmouk Camp is the area of Damascus known for its Palestinian population. It was first established as an unofficial refugee camp for those fleeing Palestine but went on to become a thriving multi-cultural part of the Syrian capital. This three-part drama tells the story of the Syrian uprising and how it turned into a civil war. Writer Ghassan Zakarya lived through the uprising before being forced to leave, claiming asylum in France. The production was recorded in London with a Syrian and Palestinian cast, some of whom were established actors in Syria before fleeing the war, arriving in the UK as refugees after often perilous journeys. ~Yarmouk takes us inside an extraordinary story, giving an authentic and personal view of the catastrophic events that have taken place there - not only do we see the effect on normal people but also the consequences for the very identity of Syria as a country. Cast: Hatem - Osama el Azzeh Salma - Sofia Asir Khaled - Ammar Haj Ahmad Rania - Arwa Omaren Nasser - Nayef Rashed Omar - Zaydun Khalaf News Announcer - Alia Alzougbi General Command Officer - Joe Haddad Written by Ghassan Zakarya Music, Rihab Azar Script editor Jonathan Myerson Sound Design, Alisdair McGregor Producer and Director, Boz Temple-Morris A Holy Mountain production for BBC Radio 4 The story of the Syrian uprising seen through the eyes of young people in Damascus. |
| 02 | Uprising | 20200721 | Hatem was among the young people in Syria who joined the protests to help bring about a better future but who soon find themselves, gun in hand, fighting in a war. His friends try to dissuade him. All of them must find a way to live through the extraordinary turmoil of an uprising that is turning into a civil war. Set in Yarmouk Camp, an area of Damascus initially established as a Palestinian refugee camp but which, by the start of the Syrian uprising in 2011, is a thriving multi-cultural part of the city. In this second of three episodes we see escalating violence as the Government crack down on any dissent and the Free Syrian Army is established in response. Writer Ghassan Zakarya lived through the uprising before being forced to leave, claiming asylum in France. The production was recorded in London with a Syrian and Palestinian cast, some of whom were established actors in Syria before fleeing the war, arriving here as refugees after perilous journeys. ~Yarmouk takes us inside an extraordinary story, giving an authentic and personal view of the catastrophic events that have taken place there - not only do we see the effect on normal people but also the consequences for the very identity of Syria as a country. Cast: Hatem - Osama el Azzeh Salma - Sofia Asir Khaled - Ammar Haj Ahmad Rania - Arwa Omaren Nasser - Nayef Rashed Fatima - Alia Alzougbi Masoud - Joe Haddad Omar - Zaydun Khalaf Checkpoint Commander - Baraa Halabieh Other parts played by members of the cast Written by Ghassan Zakarya Music, Rihab Azar Script Editor Jonathan Myerson Sound Design, Alisdair McGregor Producer and Director, Boz Temple-Morris A Holy Mountain production for BBC Radio 4 The Syrian uprising turns increasingly violent as the Government cracks down on protest. The story of the Syrian uprising seen through the eyes of young people in Damascus. |
| 03 | War | 20200722 | The people of Yarmouk are stuck as the Government bombardment intensifies and ISIS also attempt to seize control. Hatem and his Free Syrian Army unit must fight to regain control as civilians begin to lose all hope for the survival of their community. This is the concluding episode of the story of the Syrian uprising, seen from the perspective of young people living in Yarmouk, a predominantly Palestinian area of Damascus. Writer Ghassan Zakarya lived through the uprising before being forced to leave, claiming asylum in France. The production was recorded in London with a Syrian and Palestinian cast, some of whom were established actors in Syria before fleeing the war, arriving here as refugees after perilous journeys. ~Yarmouk takes us inside an extraordinary story, giving an authentic and personal view of the catastrophic events that have taken place there - not only do we see the effect on normal people but also the consequences for the very identity of Syria as a country. Cast: Hatem - Osama el Azzeh Salma - Sofia Asir Khaled - Ammar Haj Ahmad Rania - Arwa Omaren Nasser - Nayef Rashed Fatima - Alia Alzougbi Omar - Zaydun Khalaf Masoud - Joe Haddad Checkpoint Commander - Baraa Halabieh Other parts played by members of the cast Written by Ghassan Zakarya Music, Rihab Azar Script Editor Jonathan Myerson Sound Design, Alisdair McGregor Producer and Director, Boz Temple-Morris A Holy Mountain production for BBC Radio 4 The Free Syrian Army must fight both ISIS and Government forces to protect Yarmouk. The story of the Syrian uprising seen through the eyes of young people in Damascus. |