I haven’t read the book so I walked in not really knowing what to expect. Something about Bees. I was literally blown away.
The story was at times tragic and heart-breaking, at times it was funny and silly, but throughout it was well written, powerful and moving.
The story takes place over two timelines with a number of flashbacks thrown in for good measure. It is written from the point of view of asylum seekers, an often-maligned group who are presented as a single entity.
In the beekeeper of Aleppo, this is turned on its head with the asylum seekers being the named characters and the western aid workers and government officials portrayed as a two dimensional and homogenous group.
The set design was simple but fantastic, with such strong symbolism in the last scene as the veil is ripped from the eyes of our protagonists. The videography was fantastic and the audio great, though slightly unnoticed, but only due to how seamlessly it all came together.
I felt like I was part of the dangerous journey across the sea, and it was a million miles away from the journey described in the British rags. I think that was what was so refreshing about the story, we hear so much about how we are being invaded by dangerous criminals in small rubber dinghies, people too selfish to queue up like the rest of us. But we do not hear about what drives these desperate people to upend their lives and risk it all for an uncertain future. We do not hear the stories of their journey, the horror and pain they live through. But I felt it here tonight.
The acting was sublime, the odd dodgy cockney accent aside that is. The two leads, Alfred Clay as Nuri and Roxy Faridany as Afra, were the stand out performers, at times I forgot I was watching a play and felt like I was witnessing a friends’ fall into madness. A harrowing experience and one that will live with me forever. Lastly, no review would be complete without a shout out to the geniuses behind the story, originally written by Christy Lefteri, the international bestselling author but adapted for the stage by Nesrin Alfrefaai and Matthew Spangler.
Lastly, all lovingly, painstakingly and thoughtfully pulled together by the ever-great Miranda Cromwell. The beekeeper of Aleppo is playing at the Nottingham Playhouse until February 25th. Buy yourself a ticket and go, get two and take a friend. But go see it whilst you have the chance.
By Abdul Khan
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