Nottingham Playhouse have announced their new season to include the world premiere of Christy Lefteri’s gripping best-selling novel, The Beekeeper of Aleppo, adapted by Nesrin Alrefaai and Matthew Spangler, and directed by Miranda Cromwell.

Running from 3-25 February 2023, The Beekeeper of Aleppo tells the story of Nuri, a beekeeper; and his wife, Afra, an artist. They live a simple life, rich in family and friends, in the beautiful Syrian city of Aleppo - until the unthinkable happens. When all they care for is destroyed by war, they are forced to escape. On their terrifying journey, they must face the pain of their own unbearable loss alongside incredible danger. Above all, they must journey to find each other again.

This compassionate and beautiful play is a story of connection - between friends, families and strangers.

A co-production between Nottingham Playhouse, Theatre Royal Stratford and the disability led company Ramps on the Moon heralds the spring with the premiere of Samson Hawkins’s Village Idiot, which runs from 11-25 March 2023.

Townies have decided they want a lie in, so they’re building a new high-speed railway. Issue is, it’s going right through Barbara Honeybone’s house, and she ‘ent having none of it. Barbara’s grandson Peter works for the townies and it’s his job to convince the village that having a 2-tonne bullet hurtling through the cabbage patches will actually be for the best. Then there’s Harry, Barbara’s younger grandson, he ‘ent that bothered about trains, he’s only got eyes for Debbie Mahoney. But the only thing Barbara hates more than townies is the Mahoneys.  Welcome to Syresham, South Northamptonshire. It’s not quite the Cotswolds, but it does have Syresham’s Got Talent, the headline event of the village fair. There’ll be songs, dancing, magic, drag, a bit of wrestling, and Kevin’s doing a meat raffle (vegetarian option two tins of Strongbow).

Village Idiot is a raucous comedy, where family feuds kick-off as a country fair gets into full swing.

Nottingham Playhouse Artistic Director Adam Penford said: “These are two brilliant productions to kick off our 2023 season. The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a moving and timely testament to the resilence of the human spirit and above all, love. Based on the stunning novel, the award-winning team behind our hit production, The Kite Runner, bring this new adaptation to the stage. At the helm is one of theatre’s most exciting directors, Miranda Cromwell, and I’m thrilled to welcome her to the Playhouse for the first time. This is followed by local writer, Samson Hawkin’s, main stage debut. We’ve been developing Village Idiot with Samson for five years now. It’s a brutally funny look at small town life – irreverent, witty and brilliant.”

For more information and to book tickets, please click here.