Site by Rabbithole
A person at a desk holds a black and white photo of a family

Photo: Altorfer

Dear Laila

Basel Zaraa (UK/Palestine)

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Details

When?

Thu 23 Oct 2025 -
Sat 25 Oct 2025
10am–5pm (various 15 min slots)

Where?

Leeds Kirkgate Market
Vicar Lane
City Centre
Leeds
LS2 7HY

What?

Installation

Prices

Pay What You Can £2–£35
Recommended price £15
Plus booking fees

Through the story of one family, this intimate, interactive installation shares the Palestinian experience of displacement and resistance.

The seeds of Dear Laila were planted when Basel Zaraa’s five-year-old daughter began to ask him about his home growing up. Unable to take her there, he decided he would try to bring the place to her, by creating a model of his childhood home in Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus.

Dear Laila explores how war and exile are experienced through everyday, domestic and public spaces. Experienced by one audience member at a time, Dear Laila uses the retelling of memories and tactile details to bring this now destroyed place to life.

Your Experience

What to expect

This is an interactive installation experienced by one person at a time, who sits at a desk. The work features photos, videos, and audio.

Duration

15 mins

Age guidance

14+

Language

English

Content guidance

The performance includes mention of a massacre; a mention of bombing and a bombing sound; and explores the experience of becoming a refugee.

Getting here

Head to the Leeds Kirkgate Market website for more information about getting to the venue.

Access information

Captions

Transcript available

Seating

A high-backed chair is offered to sit at and experience the work.

Open door policy

We have an open door policy across all shows at Transform, meaning ticket holders are welcome to come and go as they need.

More information

Head to Transform’s Access page for more information.

Credits

Performances at Transform 25 co-presented by Transform and Leeds Kirkgate Market. Curation of Dear Laila at Transform 25 was supported by Transform Young Curator Saba Siddiqui, who identified this performance as one they would like audiences to experience at the festival.

Commissioned by Good Chance Theatre, with support from Arts Council England

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