Following its world premiere at The Nottingham Playhouse in 2023, The Beekeeper of Aleppo makes a welcome return to its theatre of origin. But can the new production live up to its early acclaim....
Adapted from Christy Lefteri’s best-selling novel, The Beekeeper of Aleppo is intimate in that it focuses on a couple fleeing Syria, and trying to get to England to be reunited with a family member, Mustafa (who taught Nuri to care for bees).
Nuri is a beekeeper and his wife Afra is an artist, they live in the Syrian city of Aleppo. But when war breaks out they are forced to flee the city. Afra has convinced Nuri to stay in Aleppo much longer than most people, holding onto a fragile sense of home. But war forces people from their homes more often that we perhaps imagine. On their journey they meet and care for a young boy (Muhammad) who Nuri comes to treat much like his own son. It’s a touching and poignant part of the story and the actress Dona Atallah (actually 25 years of age) who plays Muhammad is superb.
Along the way they meet lots of people, including well-meaning but ultimately unhelpful types, a sex trafficker who attacks Afra, and by the time they get to the UK, mostly officious civil servants who are largely dispassionate to their plight. It’s a damning incitement of modern society. We live in a time when being a refugee is common, but we tend to look the other way, or confuse them with lengthy forms and overly-complex rules and regulations that stop them from being able to work or build a life in the UK, even though they are often highly educated and capable, experienced people.
Adam Sina takes the central role of Nuri, and his performance is a masterclass. His vocal delivery and body language are excellent. His performance makes it clear from the beginning that he’s carrying a lot of emotional baggage with regards to his lost son, Sami. Farah Saffari’s Afra is equally compelling. Her character has lost so much, including her sight. The relationship between the two leads feels real and honest. Joseph Long (Mustafa/Moroccan Man) also stands out in a multi-role performance.
This is grown up, serious theatre, that absolutely has something to say, examining the themes of war, displacement and loss
The Beekeeper of Aleppo isn't an comfortable watch. It's not an easy night at the theatre with lots of colour and laughs. This is grown up, serious theatre, that absolutely has something to say, examining the themes of war, displacement and loss. It's rarely loud or colourful or over-acted. It’s thoughtful and contemplative, completely character driven and genuinely gripping. It's a quiet but effective piece of theatre that makes the audience feel the horror of how war drives people from their homes.
It’s beautifully acted, directed and produced. It's unafraid to use silences when needed to allow emotional messages to land, and it also asks the audience tough questions, without necessarily offering any simple answers. It's heavy and moving, but it’s the type of story that needs to be told, and more importantly to be heard.
The Beekeeper of Aleppo will linger in the mind long after the audience leaves the theatre. And if you don’t get chance to see the play, think on this… at no time in human history have there been more refugees and forcibly displaced people than there are today – 37 million and 123 million, respectively (UNHCR). The recent conflict in Syria alone has produced over 6 million refugees with another 7 million internally displaced persons within the country. We cannot continue to allow this to happen and to go largely unnoticed across the world…
The Beekeeper of Aleppo is showing at the Nottingham Playhouse from Friday 13 to Saturday 28 February 2026.
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