The only venue outside London to stage Tara Arts and Theatre Accord’s Paradise of the Assassins is the Belgrade, Coventry.
The first adaptation of Abdul Halim Sharar’s work, set in medieval Persia, tells the story of young lovers Hussain and Zamurrud who have eloped and are on their way to Mecca to sanctify their marriage.
After spending a night in the Alburz mountains, Zamurrud is kidnapped by the assassins and held prisoner in a man-made paradise. Hussain must renounce his faith to be reunited with his love.
This “chillingly resonant” story, written more than a century ago, charts Hussain’s radicalisation through a medieval Islamic sect. The story’s action shifts “from the humorous to the terrifying, depicting the influence of one of history’s most notorious organisations—the medieval assassins—in a dynamic and pertinent adventure story of love and loyalty”.
Paradise of the Assassins features an ensemble cast of eight who include Asif Khan, RADA graduate Skye Hallam, Mitesh Soni who played Banquo and Ralf Birtwell who also appeared in Tara’s 2015 production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Original music is by Tara associate Danyal Dhondy and the set is designed by Linbury Prize finalist Matilde Marangoni.
Anthony Clark, who has adapted the novel and directs, said, “the struggle for people of faith not to compromise what they believe in when they are faced with unforeseen circumstances goes to the heart of the human condition. This story touches on terror as a political phenomenon and I’m interested in the perpetrator who’s also a victim.”
Author Abdul Halim Sharar was a left-wing progressive writer in Urdu in late 19th century India. He wrote more than 100 books and stories including a three-volume history of Islam which he completed shortly before his death in 1926.
Paradise of the Assassins will be performed on the B2 stage at the Belgrade from Thursday 13 until Saturday 15 October.