Nottingham Playhouse: First Look at Rehearsal Images of The Beekeeper of Aleppo

Nottingham Playhouse today releases rehearsal images for the re-mount of the acclaimed play The Beekeeper of Aleppo. Adapted by Nesrin Alrefaai and Matthew Spangler from the best-selling novel by Christy Lefteri, the play returns to Nottingham following its world premiere in 2023.

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.

“Sparklingly assured.”
4 * The Telegraph

“A profoundly moving triumph.”
5 * Theatre and Tonic

Reviews from the 2023 production.

“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.”

Directed by the multi-award-winning Anthony Almeida (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Curve Leicester), the production will feature Adam Sina (Motive and the Cue, National Theatre) as Nuri and Farah Saffari (Sex Education, Netflix) as Afra. Joseph Long (Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, West End & UK Tour) returns to the role of Mustafa/Moroccan Man; as does Aram Mardourian (The Kite Runner, Waterside Theatre & UK Tour) 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) is Angeliki/Lucy Fisher; Dona Atallah (Anne Boleyn the Musical, Hever Castle) plays Mohammed/Sami; Mohsen Ghaffari (Phaedra, National Theatre) and Helena Massoud (Macbeth, Quantum Theatre) 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.