An experience in theatre that is unforgettable in so many ways. Nesrin Alrefaai and Matthew Spangler have adapted one of the times top three bestselling books of 2020 to bring it to life on the big stage, directed by Olivier Award winning Miranda Cromwell.
The Beekeeper of Aleppo follows the harrowing story of Nuri, a beekeeper in Aleppo, and his wife as they are forced to leave their homes and escape. In their journey, we are witness to their many losses and the struggles they must face, but amongst it all, the hardest being them finding each other again.
The set design brings the story to life in an unimaginable way. Real visual images and quotes from the book are incorporated into the show at the right time to help the audience’s emotional involvement. The aesthetic and colour of it also allows it, in such a clever way, to be used in two different countries and two different contexts as the play switches from past to present using the physical element of the set. The creative team of actors do an incredible job, bringing these complex characters to life, embracing them fully and allowing the audience to connect to them such that we become invested in their lives. Movement is also a key piece to the performance and plays a role in enhancing its dialogue which is beautifully written. We not only see this piece of art, but we feel it as it encapsulates within it an extensive range of emotions, at first making the audience laugh only for there to be tears in their eyes.
This was not only an evening of appreciating art but also being educated through it. Many of us may hear about but are extremely unaware of the struggles that refugees must face daily. This theatre show is not only an eye-opening experience but a small window into the lives of those that have had to leave all that they know and all that they love behind. Whilst filling you with a great sense of gratitude and appreciation, it also awakens you to the harsh realities of what others must face. I urge you to go and see it as it tours the UK from February to July 2023 and would like to end with one of my favourite quotes from the play, which is a reflection of the message I believe it aims to tell.
‘Wherever there are bees there are flowers and wherever there are flowers there is new life and new hope’ – Christy Lefteri
By Hibah-noor Hussain
BFI Film Academy
I found this review so intriguing, I knew of the book but didn’t know it was also performed on Stage. Thank you Hibah-noor for your review, I shall endeavour to watch this!