The Beekeeper Of Aleppo At Nottingham Playhouse Review

Reviewed by Louise Edwards

The Beekeeper of Aleppo is an award-winning novel by Christy Lefteri which has been adapted for the stage by Nesrin Alrefaai and Matthew Spangler in a joint production between Liverpool Everyman and Nottingham Playhouse theatres.

Nuri (Alfred Clay) and Afra (Roxy Faridany) are a happily married couple who live in Aleppo with their son, Sami (played magnificently by Elham Mahyoub who also plays Mohammed). Mustafa (Joseph Long who also plays other characters) is a close friend and bee keeping partner in their business. They tenderly look after their bees and sell the delicious honey in their market stall. Life ticks along well until the Syrian Civil War brings destruction, and ultimately death to their door and they are forced to flee their beloved city.

Miranda Cromwell directs the production and the action starts with Nuri at Heathrow Airport subjected to interrogation questions as to why he deserves asylum in England. The drama then flashes back and forth to the couple’s journey to this point and beyond as their battle continues to resettle in the UK.

Mustafa has already made the journey to England as his wife has a cousin there and communicates with Nuri throughout the journey via emails to motivate him along. Afra, blinded from a bomb shelling, is dependent on her husband and they both carry a deep invisible wound as they make the epic journey in the hope of finding their peace.

The production is powerful. We meet their positive case worker, Lucy Fisher (played by Nadia Williams, who also plays Angeliki a refugee they meet in a camp in Athens whose baby is taken from her). Fisher helps them initially when they arrive in the UK as they experience racism and resentment. Their struggles with an alien system are recounted dramatically, with Daphne Jouma playing Dr Faruk (amongst other characters) who recognises the psychological, as well as physical, trauma the pair have been through. Aram Mardourian plays multiple characters including Nadim, a bully in the refugee camp and people smuggler Fotakis. Fanos Xenofos joins the cast also in several roles including aid worker and immigration officer.

The stage design by Ruby Pugh shows the backdrop of an abandoned home and a desolate desert inspired scene, which transforms to be a variety of different spaces as the journey from Aleppo transpires. The music (Tingying Dong) and lighting creates atmosphere and mood for the different locations the stage takes on and the film effects (Ravi Deepres) cast onto the backdrop of the house follow the journey through burnt out homes and storm slashed seas.

The production as a whole is captivating and executed well, and although it isn’t as good as The Kite Runner, which has been a previous collabortion, it is moving and thought provoking and transmits the message it intends to with such a complex and highly emotive topic.

The Nottingham Playhouse is located a short walk from the city centre. There are limited restaurants in the area but the Playhouse does have a bar serving drinks and basic snacks. The running time is 2 hours 20 minutes including a 20 minute break. Parking (payable) is available on the streets around the Playhouse or there is an NCP carpark a short walk away.

Rating: 4/5

Tickets cost from £10.50

The Beekeeper of Aleppo is at Nottingham playhouse until Satuday 25 February 2023, for more information or to book tickets visit https://nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/events/the-beekeeper-of-aleppo/ or call the box office on 0115 941 9419

Nottingham Playhouse Wellington Circus NG1 5AF