In these highly anxious and turbulent times, it can feel easy to lose hope and give up. This unique and moving hybrid work opens doors of possibility to all of us, offering a wake-up call for connection and change.

In 2018, Shahrzad Arshadi and Anna Chatterton travelled to the Qandil mountains of Kurdistan, where they were hosted by a group of Kurdish female freedom fighters. After living with and gathering the accounts of these extraordinary women, the playwrights returned home to create a searing piece of theatre that not only amplifies their voices but also deftly examines privilege, feminism, and the nature of courage. Children of Fire is a comprehensive document of that process, which centres around the play script, and also includes poems by and interviews with the resistance fighters, photographs, and candid personal essays from the authors. Arshadi ruminates on her deep and lasting relationship with the women, while Chatterton reflects on the journey and connecting with a fighter through the art of poetry.

Ultimately, this is a vital book about female empowerment, about how the personal is political, and how genuine shifts are rooted in action. The women’s struggle is in aid of peace and to protect the environment, as well as the Kurdish people and women everywhere. Children of Fire emphasizes that we are all part of this critical fight and that together we can create a better world for everyone.