São Paulo – The play “Salamaleque,” in which actress and creator Valéria Arbex recalls the character’s Syrian memories while preparing traditional recipes on stage, will begin a tour of coastal and inland cities in São Paulo state this month. According to information provided by the organizers of the project “Ssalam, uma cozinha síria no interior de São Paulo” (Ssalam, a Syrian Kitchen in the São Paulo Countryside), the tour will feature 12 performances in nine municipalities, as well as workshops on preparing Syrian recipes.
In “Salamaleque,” the stage is transformed into a kitchen, the play’s central setting. As she revisits memories of her Arab heritage and childhood through her family’s stories, the character prepares traditional recipes. The starting point for creating the play, which premiered in São Paulo in 2013, was an inheritance Arbex received: letters exchanged by her grandparents, Nadime and Nicolau. The correspondence was sent from two cities included in the tour, Cerqueira César and Piraju, while the couple were engaged. Through one story after another, the character explores themes such as immigration, belonging and cultural identity.
Cerqueira César will host the play’s return on September 25. Performances will then take place in Manduri on October 10, Águas de Santa Bárbara on October 17, Ourinhos on October 31, Bariri on November 7, Taubaté on November 13 and 14, Santos on November 19 and 21, Franca on December 5 and 6, and Piraju on December 12.
In addition to “Salamaleque,” the project includes the “Arabic Cuisine and Affective Memory Workshop.” Nine editions will be held in the cities hosting the play, with sessions dedicated to senior citizens. Among the activities, participants will prepare Arabic toast with zaatar and herbs as part of an initiative aimed at helping them reconnect with memories and their roots. Both the theatrical performances and the workshops are free of charge.
The production is supported by state and federal cultural funding programs and institutions. The schedule for “Ssalam, uma cozinha síria no interior de São Paulo” will be available on the Instagram account of Cia. Teatral Damasco.
