The Beekeeper of Aleppo is the story of Nuri and his artist wife Afra. Their life is a simple one, enjoyed with family and friends in the city of Aleppo – until war forces them to escape in search of safety and to find each other. This is a compassionate tale, one of connection, not only with family and friends but also with strangers.
The production is by Nottingham Playhouse in association with Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse and UK Productions. Stage adaptation by Nesrin Alrefaai and Matthew Spangler from the International No.1 Bestseller by Christy Lefteri.
Olivier Award-winning Director Miranda Cromwell: ‘”I’m so thrilled to be sharing this beautiful adaptation of Christy Lefteri’s stunning book. It is an arresting, courageous exploration of one family’s struggle to deal with the aftermath of losing everything. Deeply moving and visually striking, this layered story illuminates their seemingly impossible journey to find a way to live again, and a way back to each other. It holds a mirror to this moment in our history when so many people are being forced from their homes. It is a call to arms for compassion, understanding, connection and love.’
The production features Alfred Clay (The Winter’s Tale, The Comedy of Errors, RSC) as Nuri; Roxy Faridany (This Is Going To Hurt, BBC; Magic Goes Wrong, West End) as Afra; Joseph Long (Spiderman Far From Home, Marvel Studios; Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, tour and West End) as Mustafa; Aram Mardourian (The Borrowers, Polka Theatre; The Night Of The Iguana, Ustinov Studio) as Nadim, Fotakis, Ali and other parts; Daphne Kouma (Dirty Dancing, Secret Cinema; Offside, Pleasance Courtyard) as immigration officer, Dr Faruk, Dahab and other parts; Nadia Williams (The Darkest Part of The Night, Kiln Theatre; The Meaning of Zong, Bristol Old Vic) as Angeliki, Lucy Fisher and other parts; Elham Mahyoub (The Visit, National Theatre; A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lazarus Theatre) as Mohammed and Sami; and Fanos Xenofós (Margot, The Most Famous Ballerina In The World, King’s Head Theatre; Don Quixote of Algiers, White Bear Theatre) and Lily Demir (The Secret Love Life of Ophelia, Greenwich Theatre; Empty, Soho Theatre) as swings.
The creative team comprises Set and Costume Designer Ruby Pugh; Lighting Designer Ben Ormerod; Sound Designer Tingying Dong; Film Designer Ravi Deepres; Composer Elaha Soroor; Casting Director Christopher Worrall; Voice and Dialect Coach Khaled Abunaama; Cultural Consultant Nesrin Alrefaai; Drama Therapist Nikki Disney; Associate Director Nadia Emam; Associate Film Designer Luke Unsworth; and Video Programmer Edward Freeman.
Quarry Theatre, Leeds Playhouse
31 May to 3 June
Box office: 0113 213 7700
leedsplayhouse.org.uk
Photography by Manuel Harlan.
