At a time when the issue of asylum seekers is so controversially in the national news at present, it was highly informative and moving to see the award-winning play, The Syrian Baker, at Portesham Village Hall recently.

An audience of over 100 in the village watched three actors tell the story of how the Syrian uprising and subsequent war brought tragedy to ordinary life, leaving the bereaved survivors of senseless and often random violence little choice but to escape across Europe to save themselves and find peace.

A visibly moved audience offered genuine and prolonged applause at the end, and the actors subsequently cooked flatbreads with the audience in memory of the Syrian baker, a real person, who was needlessly killed in the conflict.

The drama provided a persuasive argument for considering each individual migrant case on its merits with compassion. All credit to Artsreach, which brought the play to Dorset venues, and to the volunteers at Portesham, who promoted and hosted it.

David Wood

Weymouth