I didn’t see the recent West End production of The Kite Runner at the Wyndhams Theatre so I'm delighted to hear that not only is it to be revived at The Playhouse Theatre from 8th June but advance booking are so good that it’s extending its run there until 26th August.
The press release describes the show as follows "Based on Khaled Hosseini’s international best-selling novel, this haunting and powerful story has been adapted into a stunning stage production. A haunting tale of friendship which spans cultures and continents, it follows one man’s journey to confront his past and find redemption. Afghanistan is a divided country on the verge of war and two childhood friends are about to be torn apart. It’s a beautiful afternoon in Kabul and the skies are full of the excitement and joy of a kite flying tournament. But neither Hassan or Amir can foresee the terrible incident which will shatter their lives forever."
Emilio Doorgasingh has been nominated Best Actor of the Year in Eastern Eye’s Arts Culture & Theatre Awards for The Kite Runner’s West End premiere and he is returning to the show in the pivotal role of Baba. Also returning to revive their critically acclaimed performances are Andrei Costin as Hassan, Lisa Zahra, Ezra Khan, Bhavin Bhatt; Tabla musician Hanif Khan and David Ahmad, who now plays the show’s narrator, Amir. Joining the cast for the first time will be Ravi Aujla, Umar Pasha, Jay Sajjid and Karl Seth.
The show is a dramatisation of Khaled Hosseini’s first novel, The Kite Runner, an instant best seller across the globe when it was published in 2003. Since then it’s been published in 70 countries, selling 31.5 million copies in 60 languages.
The theatrical dramatisation by Matthew Spangler and directed by Giles Croft, originally produced by Nottingham Playhouse and Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, is amassing some impressive statistics of its own.
It’s reckoned to have played to 60,000 theatregoers at the Wyndham’s earning nightly standing ovations and following its latest run at The Playhouse The Kite Runner will embark on a major 11-venue UK tour when it’ll open back at Nottingham Playhouse (31 Aug - 9 Sept) then visit Glasgow Theatre Royal (11 - 16 Sept), Leeds West Yorkshire Playhouse (19 - 23 Sept), Cambridge Arts Theatre (25 - 30 September), Salford Lowry (3 - 7 Oct) , Edinburgh King’s Theatre (9 - 14 Oct), Sheffield Lyceum (17 - 21 Oct), Cheltenham Everyman (30 Oct - 4 Nov), Bath (6 - 11 Nov), Brighton Theatre Royal (14 - 18 Nov), Exeter Northcott Theatre (21- 25 Nov). We’re told there will be more dates announced for 2018.
And I wouldn’t be surprised if, following that lot, it returned to London for a third flight!
The cast has been announced for the London production of Mel Brooks' Broadway flop YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN. I enjoyed it so much when I saw the dress rehearsal of the original show in New York that I paid to see it a second time!