Syrian refugee who saw dad shot dead stars in Greenock musical
Mohammed (Mo) Almalarashid was only seven years old when civil war broke out and in his home city of Damascus and government forces were fighting armed opposition in the streets.
The youngster's life changed forever when one of the gun battles closed in on their house and his father ran into the bedroom to protect his children – a bullet hit him in the head and he died in front of them.
Left all alone with nine children, his mum then faced a treacherous journey, spending seven years going from place to place before finding help in a refugee camp in Iraq, and they were then rescued by the UK Government.
Mo Almalarashid with his twin Ali (Image: contributed)
Mo Almalarashid (Image: George Munro)
Mo says arriving in Inverclyde at the age of 13 with his family felt like 'heaven', even though they couldn't speak a word of English.
In an extraordinary turnaround, 21-year-old Mo, who works as a gym instructor, has now taken to the stage for the first time in the remarkable Come From Away, a Prominence Academy of Performing Arts production.
Emotional Mo, who is Kurdish, said: "It has been an incredible journey for me.
"I can't quite believe it but I wouldn't be here on the stage, doing this if it wasn't for all the kindness shown to me and my family.
"I wouldn't be here without the teachers at Inverclyde Academy who taught me English and were always so kind. I can't thank them enough.
"When we arrived the kindness was overwhelming people couldn't do enough for us.
"We have faced a lot since leaving Syria but we are safe now. Inverclyde is my home - I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.
"It is beautiful and I want to stay here, build a life and a family.
"Me and my twin brother Ali are very much part of the community."
Mo Almalarashid stars in Come From Away (Image: Kevin Kerr)
Mo Almalarashid stars in Come From Away (Image: Kevin Kerr)
Mo has started to write a book about his experiences, to process everything that happened.
He said: "My dad was killed right in front of us and everything changed.
"I still remember it, we were in the bedroom hiding and my dad ran in, a bullet hit him and he was dead.
"All I remember is my sisters screaming and they started firing at our house.
"Up until then my childhood was idyllic, it was sunny and we were so happy; my brothers and sisters and I just played outside all day.
"My dad was an incredible man. He was an electrician, he had a shop and he could fix anything. He was an inventor as well."
Mo Almalarashid stars in Come From Away (Image: Kevin Kerr)
Mo Almalarashid stars in Come From Away (Image: Amy O'Brien)
In the immediate aftermath of dad Abdulsamie's death, the family hid in the house for four days, fearing for their lives.
Then the family began a treacherous journey to safety that took seven years, crossing borders and travelling more than 3,200miles from Syria.
They were met with danger, hostility and setbacks along the way as they tried to make a life in Türkiye, and a fresh start in Germany that fell through.
Of that time, Mo said: "You see the very best and the worst in people when you are a refugee."
Three years after leaving Syria they arrived in a refugee camp in Iraq where they stayed for another three years.
Mo Almalarashid with his twin Ali (Image: contributed)
Mo Almalarashid stars in Come From Away (Image: Amy O'Brien)
They were put on a list for resettlement and the UK Government stepped in to rescue them.
Mo said: "They told us to pack and get our stuff we were going to the UK."
In 2018, Mo arrived in Greenock with his mum Salma, now 61, his older brothers Azad, 32, Ahmed, 27, sister Jahan, 23, his twin brother Ali, also 21, and youngest brother Usif. Two of his sisters stayed in Türkiye with their husbands.
Mo Almalarashid with his twin Ali (Image: contributed)
He said: "Honestly when we arrived in Inverclyde it felt like heaven, it was phenomenal, we were safe and everyone was so kind they couldn't do enough for us."
Both Mo and Ali have thrived in Inverclyde, both went to study fitness and are now working for Inverclyde Leisure.
He added: "It has been so hard for my mum, she has had to start a new life, but she says that she has done it all for us, to give us a better life."
It was while at work, talking about drama, that someone suggested Prominence Academy of Performing Arts were looking for people to audition for their show Come From Away at the Beacon.
Mo Almalarashid stars in Come From Away (Image: Amy O'Brien)
They had secured the rights for the smash hit musical, which tells the story of the Newfoundland town of Gander, which ended up with thousands of airline passengers grounded after September 11.
As part of the contract, producers Lynette Beaton and Lauren Mortimer had to have a diverse cast and Mo fitted the bill for the character Ali, who experienced huge prejudices at the time.
Mo said:" I had never performed in my life, but I wanted to give it a go. I was so nervous and I only had four weeks.
"I kept reading my scripts again and again. I am dyslexic so I find lots of words so difficult. But Lynette and everyone there was so supportive.
"Then at rehearsals I forgot my lines. But on the first night my nerves disappeared and it was amazing.
"The response from the audience was so good and I want to do it again."
Producer and musical director Lynette Beaton, who is one half of the incredible indie folk band The Laurettes, said: "Mo is just incredible, we are so proud of him."
There were three performances of Come From Away at the Beacon which ran on May 27, 28, and 29.
