The Beekeeper of Aleppo stage adaptation tours UK with powerful refugee narrative

The UK tour of a stage version of The Beekeeper of Aleppo, which follows the harrowing journey of Syrian beekeeper Nuri and his artist wife Afra from their ravaged homeland to a British bed and breakfast, will run until 13 June. Directed by Anthony Almeida, with adaptations by Nesrin Alrefaai and Matthew Spangler, the play delves into themes of displacement through flashbacks set in Syria, Turkey, and Greece. Adam Sina and Farah Saffari portray Nuri and Afra, embodying their relationship with subtlety, while Joseph Long impressively takes on dual roles as Mustafa and the Moroccan Man. Princess Khumalo plays Angeliki, a Somalian refugee, with poignant restraint. The production showcases Ruby Pugh's set design, featuring furniture emerging from debris, and Tingying Dong's evocative soundscape. Although it excels in quieter moments, the production faces challenges, particularly with casting choices, such as adult Dona Atallah as the child character Mohammed. The play effectively conveys themes of bureaucratic indifference and fragile hope, especially in its most poignant scenes.