The Kite Runner, now playing at Wyndham's Theatre and based on Khaled Hosseini’s international bestselling novel and film, is a powerful story of friendship spanning cultures and continents following one man’s journey from Afghanistan to America. Hosseini and his family were granted political asylum in the United States in 1980.
At the curtain call on 31 January, cast member Emilio Doorgasingh told the audience, “in the light of extraordinary events unfolding on the world stage at the moment, we as a company felt that we had to say something."
He went on to read out the following statement on behalf of the whole company.
“The Kite Runner is about many things, one of which is the story of refugees in America. Last week, an executive order from the US President banned all refugees from entering the United States and banned all citizens, refugees or not, from seven Muslim-majority countries.
“Due to the nature of this play, we feel it incumbent upon us to speak out against such actions. We, as a company, are a diverse family of different ethnic and religious backgrounds. We are Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews and non-believers, but what unites us all is our belief in humanity. This is also a play about love, hope and redemption.
“Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner and himself a Muslim-American, came to the United States as a political refugee. He points out that this executive order will target mostly 'women and children escaping years of atrocity and unspeakable suffering.'
“He goes on to say that this is ‘a time for compassion and solidarity, not divisive policy that undermines [our] core values’.
“We as a company embrace these sentiments, and we hope you’ll do the same through your compassion, generosity, and actions, however small that might help alleviate the plight of the world’s refugees and displaced peoples.”