THIS autumn, following a successful run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Torch Theatre Company’s production of Angel takes to the road with a seven-week tour of performances in England and Wales, including three weeks in London.

Angel is a powerful and poignant one woman play, written by acclaimed playwright Henry Naylor. It’s the legendary story of Rehana; one woman’s brave fight against the greatest threat to her town and its people.

Directed by Peter Doran and featuring Yasemin Özdemir as the eponymous Angel, the play was originally produced at the Torch Theatre in 2021. Coming back to the part, Yasemin, who grew up in Haverfordwest and is an alumnus of the Youth Theatre, said during rehearsals:

“It’s been a delight coming back to Angel. We are rediscovering the text and it feels like a much newer production. Parts of the play ring differently for me – I’ve found new elements to it, but the story but the story remains powerful and relevant.”

Peter Doran added:

“Angel has not lost any of its power and impact. It’s undoubtedly one of the most powerful plays I’ve ever seen or worked on. There’s no doubt in my mind that the war in Ukraine has brought the impact of war closer to home giving it a more powerful resonance for audiences throughout the UK. Yasemin and I are enjoying working together once again and are thrilled to be bringing this powerful piece of theatre to a whole new audience.”

Angel tells the story of Rehana who stayed in her town, Kobane, to fight following invasion by ISIS forces from which families fled. As a sniper Rehana allegedly killed more than 100 ISIS fighters. When her story came out, she became an internet sensation and a symbol of resistance against Islamic State and was called the ‘Angel of Kobane’.

Angel, a one-woman show, is the third story in Henry Naylor’s Arabian Nightmares trilogy and was first staged to great acclaim at Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2016. Since then it has been seen around the world to great critical acclaim, winning awards at many international festivals.

Now the Torch production is currently at the Edinburgh Fringe, receiving critical acclaim, before the show goes on the road to venues across England and Wales, returning to the Torch on October 22 at the end of the tour.

^{Please note - Angel contains strong language and distressing scenes that some may find uncomfortable. This Production is recommended for those aged 14 and above.}