David Ahmad, Andrei Costin and More Will Star in the UK Tour Of THE KITE RUNNER

The Kite Runner, an unforgettable theatrical tour-de-force, is to tour the UK in 2020 following two acclaimed West End seasons, when it played to over 100,000 people and received standing ovations at every single performance. It will also premiere in Dubai at the 2,000-seat Dubai Opera.

David Ahmad returns to the central role of Amir, with Andrei Costin as Hassan and Sohrab, Lisa Zahra as Soraya and Bhavin Bhatt as bad boy Assef, a role that led to him being named "Best Newcomer" at the Asian Media Awards.

The cast is completed by Tiran Aakel, Ian Abeyesekera, Adam Samuel Bal, Christopher Glover, Rhian Mclean, Dean Rehman, Stuart Vincent, Stanton Wright with Hanif Khan as the onstage Tabla Player.

Creative team: Director Giles Croft, Designer Barney George, Lighting Designer Charles Balfour, Projection Designer William Simpson, Composer and Musical Director Jonathan Girling, Sound Designer Drew Baumohl, Movement Director Kitty Winter, Fight Director Philip D'Orléans.

The Kite Runner will tour to 16 cities and towns across the UK, starting at Aylesbury's Waterside Theatre (21 - 22 February) then Dubai Opera, 27 - 29 February, Theatre Clywd, Mold (5 - 7 March), Richmond Theatre (10 - 14 March), Salisbury Playhouse (17 - 21 March), Leeds Playhouse (31 March - 4 April), Lowry, Salford (7 - 11 April), Churchill Theatre, Bromley (14 - 18 April), Wolverhampton Grand Theatre (21 - 25 April), Eastbourne Devonshire Theatre (28 April - 2 May), Plymouth Theatre Royal (4 - 9 May), Darlington Hippodrome (12 - 16 May), Cardiff New Theatre (19 - 23rd May), Inverness Eden Court (26 - 30 May), Woking New Victoria Theatre (2 - 6 June), Oxford Playhouse (9 - 13 June), Southampton Nuffield Theatre (16 - 19 June), Leicester Curve Theatre (22 - 27 June), Sheffield Lyceum (30 June - 4 July).

Based on Khaled Hosseini's international best-selling novel, this 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...

The Kite Runner, published in 2003, was Khaled Hosseini's first novel. It became an instant bestseller across the globe and has since been published in 70 countries, selling 31.5 million copies in 60 languages.

The Kite Runner is adapted for the stage by Matthew Spangler and directed by Giles Croft. Produced by Martin Dodd for UK Productions and Derek Nicol & Paul Walden for Flying Entertainment.

It was originally produced by Nottingham Playhouse and Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse.

Giles Croft, who was artistic director at Nottingham Playhouse for 18 years and directed more than 50 productions there, rates The Kite Runner as a soaring highlight of his career. "The response is always extraordinarily powerful and we are fortunate to get standing ovations at every performance, with audiences connecting deeply and emotionally with the characters and the story." It is, Giles strongly believes, a story with universal resonance. "It speaks to all people through the core themes of guilt, forgiveness and redemption. Those are things that we all have some connection with. It doesn't matter who you are or where you are, it will speak to you."

Matthew Spangler adds that the play covers many universal themes: a father and son relationship, friendship, love, global politics, refugees, forgiveness and redemption. "A more conventional play might just choose one of those themes, but in The Kite Runner all the themes kind of swim around each other. There's always something new happening on stage and something new to think about. It's a very sad but hopeful and moving story. Maybe people will leave with a greater understanding of the themes and it's great if they do, but at the very basic level it's a piece of storytelling and emotion."

THE KITE RUNNER 2020 TOUR

Aylesbury

Waterside Theatre
21 - 22 February

Dubai

Dubai Opera
27 - 29 February

Mold

Theatre Clywd
5 - 7 March

Richmond

Richmond Theatre
10 - 14 March
Press night
Tuesday 10 March
at 7.30pm

Salisbury

Salisbury Playhouse
17 - 21 March

Leeds

Leeds Playhouse
31 March - 4 April

Salford

The Lowry
7 - 11 April

Bromley

Churchill Theatre
14 - 18 April

Wolverhampton

Grand Theatre
21 - 25 April

Eastbourne

Devonshire Theatre
28 April - 2 May

Plymouth

Theatre Royal
4 - 9 May

Darlington

Hippodrome
12 - 16 May

Cardiff

New Theatre
19 - 23 May

Inverness

Eden Court
26 - 30 May

Woking

New Victoria Theatre
2 - 6 June

Oxford

Oxford Playhouse
9 - 13 June

Southampton

Nuffield Theatre
16 - 19 June

Leicester

Curve Theatre
22 - 27 June

Sheffield

Lyceum
30 June - 4 July
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