Omid Djalili on his love for Suffolk and his star-studded show in aid of Turkey and Syria at the Ipswich Regent Theatre

“It’s an important reminder that disaster could strike anywhere at any minute and any of us could become refugees. This was a devastating event and we want to put on an amazing show to help support them.”

Comedian Omid Djalili was in Spain when two harrowing earthquakes struck the border region between Turkey and Syria on February 6, killing nearly 60,000 people.

Constant, 24-hour coverage followed the devastation, and his eyes were glued to the screen watching the events unfold.

Now, five months on, he returns to the stage in Suffolk – the county he loves and has called home since 2020 – to help support the hundreds of thousands displaced by the tragedy.

He joins fellow comedians Seann Walsh and Paul Chowdhry, as well as musical artists The Turbans and The Solidarity Ensemble for ‘Suffolk Stands with Turkey and Syria’ at the Ipswich Regent Theatre this Saturday, June 17.

“I found myself very moved by the events. We saw utter devastation the likes we’ve not seen before and Turkey is such a lovely place that many visit,” Omid said.

“In the aftermath, Ipswich became a city of sanctuary and we took in a lot of refugees. There are already big Turkish and Syrian communities here, which has helped, and people have been wonderful.

“The earthquake was frontpage news for a while, but people moved on, and it isn’t in the spotlight much anymore. However, clean up is still ongoing, and it’s important for continued support and to raise awareness that the consequences of this disaster are still very real.

“It’s an important reminder that disaster could strike anywhere at any minute and any of us could become refugees. This was a devastating event and we want to put on an amazing show to help support them.”

Omid featured in a benefit concert on behalf of Turkey and Syria in April at the Royal Albert Hall, which featured big names such as Hozier, James Bay, and Marcus Mumford, all raising funds for the charity, War Child.

Inspired by this, he revealed he wanted to put on the kind of show you would typically see in London, but, as he lived in Suffolk, he wanted to host it here to put it on the map.

Omid said visitors could expect a fantastic night of entertainment which also highlights the magnitude of the event.

In addition to the two comedians, who will close the first and second acts as Omid felt they were ‘unfollowable’, he will be joined by actor Tamer Hassan, whose family was affected by the tragedy, and who became very involved in campaigning.

The two musical acts, while not the massive names present at the Albert Hall, they were ‘fantastic artists and stars in their own right’, according to Omid.

In addition, the show will also feature testimonies from refugees who fled the crisis.

Both people who attend, and people who cannot make it, will be able to do their bit for the cause, Omid said.

Revenue from ticket sales, as well as an independent fundraiser accessible by everyone, will be sent off to aid those affected.

In addition, it has been sponsored by various businesses in Suffolk, including Thurston-based Smart Garden Offices, Fleximize, DPL Group, Friel, Tru7, and also supported by Ipswich Borough Council.

“Many refugees want to become involved with the communities they settle in, and I’ve done lots of work with some of them at The Hive or Norwich Road,” Omid said.

“It also made me think that if I ended up displaced somewhere, I’d also want to get involved and not just live rent-free.”

Omid’s love for his adopted home county is well-known.

He recently launched the Tractor and Kebab comedy club in Ipswich, and his show at the Regent comes just a few months after he hosted a panel at the University of Suffolk on whether Ipswich should become a city.

Omid said: “Ipswich Town just got promoted so I think it’s a perfect time to have this discussion. There’s a lot of support, but people also voiced their concerns that the town may not be worthy of city status.

“Town are a Premier League-quality team, but they spent a while in lower leagues, and the town itself is a bit like that. It can be a lot better, and people feel as though it has to deserve city status. Suffolk still has no cities. If not Ipswich, then where else?

“The people of Ipswich are very culture-savvy and I’m proud to be a part of that.”

Tickets for Suffolk Stands are still on sale and can be booked from the Ipswich Theatres website.