Nottingham Playhouse has announced the cast for the world première of Nesrin Alrefaai and Matthew Spangler’s adapation of Christy Lefteri’s novel The Beekeeper of Aleppo.
The production will feature Alfred Clay as Nuri, Roxy Faridany as Afra, Joseph Long as Mustafa, Aram Mardourian as Nadim, Fotakis, Ali and other parts, Daphne Kouma as immigration officer, Dr Faruk, Dahab and other parts, Nadia Williams as Angeliki, Lucy Fisher and other parts, Elham Mahyoub as Mohammed and Sami and Fanos Xenofós and Lily Demir as swings.
Miranda Cromwell directs. Set and costume designer is Ruby Pugh, lighting designer is Ben Ormerod and sound designer is Tingying Dong. Ravi Deepres is film designer and composer is Elaha Soroor. Christopher Worrall is casting director, voice and dialect coach is Khaled Abunaama and Nesrin Alrefaai is cultural consultant. Dramatherapist is Nikki Disney, associate director is Nadia Emam, Luke Unsworth is associate film designer and video programmer is Edward Freeman.
Lefteri’s novel was one of The Times top three best-selling books of 2020. The Beekeeper of Aleppo tells the story of beekeeper Nuri and his wife Afra who is an artist. They live a simple life, rich in family and friends, in the Syrian city of Aleppo—until all they care for is destroyed by war and they are forced to escape. On their terrifying journey, they have to face the pain of their own unbearable loss alongside incredible danger.
The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a Nottingham Playhouse production in association with Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse and UK Productions.
It will open at Nottingham Playhouse from Friday 3 until Saturday 25 February. It then tours to Liverpool Playhouse from 1 to 11 March, Salisbury Playhouse (21 to 25 March), New Theatre Cardiff (28 March to 1 April), Theatre Severn Shrewsbury (4 to 8 April), Gaiety Theatre Dublin (11 to 15 April), The Lowry Salford (18 to 22 April), Theatre Royal Glasgow (25 to 29 April), Richmond Theatre London (2 to 6 May), Theatre Royal Norwich (9 to 13 May), Cambridge Arts Theatre (16 to 20 May), Belgrade Theatre Coventry (23 to 27 May), Leeds Playhouse (31 May to 3 June), Theatre Royal Newcastle-upon-Tyne (6 to 10 June), Birmingham Rep (13 to 17 June), Theatre Royal Plymouth (20 to 24 June) and Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford (27 June to 1 July).