The dialogue between tradition and modernity has had an ambivalent impact on the intellectuals and, in particular, the dramatists of the Arab world. This thesis sets out to examine taw~If al-tudith (employing tradition) in a modem «Ontext, which Syrian playwrights have regarded as an issue that is central to their work. The dramatic phenomena from alturath (tradition) vary greatly, and they have been even more varied when applied in a modem context in the form of Western-style plays. But the idealistic search by Syrian dramatists to find or create their 'authentic' Arabic theatre has not been a simple task. In order to reach an understanding of the main thesis and attempt to draw any conclusions, a selection of six Syrian playwrights has been chosen to represent this debate. The choice of these six playwrights has been determined by their manifest influence on the advancement and development of Syrian theatre through the publication and performances of their plays and through their extensive articles and books published on Arabic theatre in general and Syrian theatre in particular.