Nottingham Playhouse, in association with UK Productions Ltd, announces the full cast for the return of the acclaimed stage adaptation of Christy Lefteri’s best-selling novel, The Beekeeper of Aleppo.
Following its acclaimed world premiere at Nottingham Playhouse in 2023, this restaging of The Beekeeper of Aleppo, adapted by Nesrin Alrefaai and Matthew Spangler, opens at Nottingham Playhouse on 7 February before embarking on a national tour in the spring.
Directed by the multi-award-winning Anthony Almeida (Heroine, Opéra National de Lorraine; Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Curve Leicester), the production will feature Adam Sina (Motive and the Cue, National Theatre; War Horse, West End) as Nuri and Farah Saffari (Play On, Traverse Theatre; Sex Education, Netflix) as Afra. Joseph Long (Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, West End & UK Tour; The Last Confession, Chichester Festival Theatre, West End & UK Tour) returns to the role of Mustafa/Moroccan Man; as does Aram Mardourian (The Kite Runner, Waterside Theatre & UK Tour; The Night of the Iguana, Ustinov Studio) as Nadim/Fotakis/Ali; Alia Lahlou (MA Classical Acting, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama) is Dr Faruk/Dahab/Immigration Officer; Princess Khumalo (Stocking Fillers, Liverpool Royal Court; The Tempest, Shakespeare North Playhouse) is Angeliki/Lucy Fisher; Dona Atallah (Anne Boleyn the Musical, Hever Castle; Asmahan: a New Musical Play, Peacock Theatre Sadler’s Wells) plays Mohammed/Sami; Mohsen Ghaffari (Phaedra, National Theatre; The Government Inspector, Chichester Festival Theatre) and Helena Massoud (Macbeth, Quantum Theatre; MA Acting Mountview) are ensemble.
The creative team includes Designer Ruby Pugh; Lighting Designer Ben Ormerod; Sound Designer Tingying Dong; Video Designer Zsolt Balogh for PALMA Studio; Composer Elaha Soroor; Casting Director Lucy Jenkins & Sooki McShane for Jenkins McShane Casting; Cultural Consultant Nesrin Alrefaai; Associate Sound Designer Bella Kear and Assistant Director Massi Safa. The original production was directed by Miranda Cromwell.
Anthony Almeida, Director, said:
“What a thrill to restage this sweeping story with an electric new cast. Christy Lefteri’s sensational novel is a clarion call to the everyday – but extraordinary – lives of people who seek a better tomorrow. ‘Beekeeper’ is a play full of heart, wit and hardship – and to share these vivid characters with audiences nationwide in 2026 feels ever-more urgent. I’m truly excited for how this talented, soulful company of actors will light up the stage.”
Artistic Director at Nottingham Playhouse, Adam Penford, said:
“We’re delighted at the return of this emotive play, which so engaged audiences in 2023 and feels even more relevant today. Anthony Almeida will be breathing new life into this beautiful story, building on Miranda Cromwell’s original directorial vision. We can’t wait to see it revitalised with new cast members and share it with our audiences.”
Martin Dodd, Director of UK Productions commented:
“We are absolutely delighted to once again be partnering with Nottingham Playhouse to bring this amazing story, and powerful piece of theatre back to the stage. Given world events, it has never been more relevant, and following its world premiere in 2023 we were taken aback by the reaction of audiences to each and every performance, with emotions running the full spectrum between laughter and tears.”
Nuri is a beekeeper; his wife, Afra, an artist. They live a simple life, rich in family and friends, in the beautiful Syrian city of Aleppo – until the unthinkable happens. When all they care for is destroyed by war, they are forced to escape. On their terrifying journey, they must face the pain of their own unbearable loss alongside incredible danger. Above all, they must journey to find each other again. This compassionate and beautiful play is a story of connection – between friends, families and strangers.
“I was scared of the bees at first, but now, they make me feel alive.
They are like a society in complete harmony with itself.
Not like people at all, but maybe what people have the potential to be.”
The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri
Winner of the Aspen Words Award, Runner up for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, and one of The Times top three bestselling books of 2020, this adaptation of Christy Lefteri’s best-selling novel is by Nesrin Alrefaai and Matthew Spangler who also adapted the sell-out production of The Kite Runner, which has continued to tour worldwide.
The production at Nottingham Playhouse is sponsored by Hollygirt School.
Nottingham Playhouse
Wellington Circus
Fri 7 – 28 February 2026
Press night: Thursday 12 Feb, 7pm
Chilled Performance: Thu 19 Feb, 7.30pm
Audio Described Performance: Thu 26 Feb, 1.30pm; Fri 27 Feb, 7.30pm
BSL Interpreted Performance: Thu 26 Feb, 7.30pm
Captioned Performance: Sat 28 Feb, 2.30pm
Posted on 27 November 2025
