On Tuesday 20 March 2015, two huge outside broadcast trucks hummed in the street outside the London theatre where we were to record Hiwar Mushtaraq (Joint Dialogue), BBC Media Action’s Libyan audience-led debate-style TV show. Cables snaked their way into the venue. Lighting engineers lit. Sound engineers one-two-ed. The scene was very much set. But why was a Libyan political discussion programme being filmed in London?
Hiwar Mushtaraq is by no means a new programme. In the face of a deteriorating security situation we made three editions of the show in Tripoli in the summer of 2014. Sometimes the audience came. Sometimes, following assassinations, protests and attacks, quite understandably, many felt it safer not to.
A struggle for survival
Now, in a worsening security situation, and as Libya struggles for its very survival, we decided that this particular show must go on.
The knowledge that the UK has one of the largest Libyan populations outside Libya strengthened my belief that we could make lively, valuable programmes that reflected what Libyans really want from the ongoing peace talks now taking place in Morocco under the auspices of the UN.
But more than anything, it was the realisation that no one else is providing a trusted and impartial platform for Libyans to debate in public that brought us to London. Because in a country which is in the grip of a civil war, its media is split across the deep divides of 'pro and anti ', the voices of the majority are being silenced.
Best in the world
So, armed with the confidence of veteran BBC editor Barney Jones who has been working with BBC Media Action trainees in Tunis and his longtime colleague, Question Time director, Rob Hopkin, we decided to record two programmes in London supported by the Question Time technical team. A group of TV people that I would humbly describe as "the best in the world."
The night before our production team accompanied the BBC Question Time team to Croydon, South London to see the show being made. Another privilege that being part of the BBC brings. The next day our team of trainees - yes trainees - put what they had learned there into practice with BBC Media Action support and made two one-hour editions.
Manchester United supporters
Our audience, mostly from the British-Libyan diaspora, filled the theatre perfectly. They came from all parts of the UK: Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Liverpool, Southampton, Cardiff, Bournemouth, London and Brighton. There was even a handful of Libyan Manchester United supporters.
Unlike the friendly banter of football team rivalry; political, tribal, geographical and ethnic differences are splintering Libya and preventing national dialogue about the country's future.
So our job was clear: Get people talking.
And talk they did.
Although divisions ran deep, the debate was heartfelt, passionate and authentic.
My favourite moment was during the interval between the two programmes. I had worried that that the audience would be tired after the first episode and leave. Instead I watched as 70 people talked and laughed over cups of tea just as I was used to seeing to back in Tripoli.
Most problems can be solved by talking - and luckily - Libyans are very good at it. Let's hope they get more chances to do just that.
Anne Reevell is Country Director, Libya
- View Hiwar Mushtaraq on the El Kul Facebook page
- Find out more about BBC Media Action work in Libya
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- Go to the BBC Media Action website
