The first images of the cast of new musical Broken Wings have been released, ahead of the production playing at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from the 1st to the 4th August.
New York City, 1923. An ageing Gibran narrates from his cold studio. Through poetry and music, he transports us back two decades and across continents, to turn-of-the-century Beirut. His eighteen-year-old self returns to The Middle East after five years in America, to complete his education and discover more of his heritage. He falls deeply in love with Selma Karamy, the daughter of family friend and hugely respected local businessman, Farris Karamy. However, Selma soon becomes betrothed to Mansour Bey Galib, nephew of the powerful Bishop Bulos Galib, who has one eye on the Karamy family fortune. Gibran and Selma fight to reconcile their love for one another, whilst navigating the rules, traditions and expectations that their society lays before them.
Based on the Lebanese-born poet Kahlil Gibran’s 1912 masterpiece, this new musical features a Book, Music & Lyrics by West End star Nadim Naaman (The Phantom of the Opera) and Music and Lyrics by Dana Al Fardan, one of The Middle East’s leading contemporary composers.
The premiere of this semi-staged production will be directed by Bronagh Lagan and will take place at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from the 1st to the 4th August.
Co-Writer Nadim Naaman leads the cast as the iconic Gibran, the show’s narrator. His co-stars are Hiba Elchikhe (Princess Jasmine in the Australian production of Disney’s Aladdin) as Selma Karamy and Rob Houchen (Marius in the West End production of Les Misérables and Titanic at Charing Cross Theatre) as Gibran’s teenage self.
They will be joined on stage by Adam Linstead (Old Deuteronomy in Cats at the London Palladium and International Tour) as Farris, Soophia Foroughi (Elena in Tiger Bay, Wales Millennium Centre and Lady of The Lake, Spamalot, English Theatre Frankfurt) as Mother, Nadeem Crowe (Doug/Mr.Spencer Williams in School of Rock at The Gillian Lynne Theatre and Sunset Boulevard, London Coliseum) as Karim, Irvine Iqbal (currently playing Sultan in the West End production of Disney’s Aladdin) as Bishop Bulos Galib and Sami Lamine (Laila:The Musical, West Yorkshire Playhouse and UK Tour) as Mansour Bey Galib with Robert Hannouch (Godspell, UK Tour, Miracle on 34th Street, UK Tour), Nikita Johal (the lead role of Wendla in Spring Awakening, Hope Mill Theatre) and Lauren James Ray (Rebecca in Imagine This, Union Theatre and understudied and played both Glinda and Nessarose in the West End production of Wicked) as ensemble.
Broken Wings will play at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from the 1st to the 4th August. For more information visit: http://www.trh.co.uk/whatson/broken-wings/