It has been announced that Nikita Johal will step into the role of  Selma in the upcoming production of Broken Wings at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. 

Having recently played the lead role of Wendla in the acclaimed “Spring Awakening” at
Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre, it has been announced that Nikita Johal will replace Hiba Elchikhe (Princess Jasmine in the Australian production of Disney’s “Aladdin”) as Selma. Hiba has withdrawn from the production for personal reasons.

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.

The cast of the production also includes the musical’s  co-writer Nadim Naaman leads the cast as the iconic Gibran, the show’s narrator, with Rob Houchen (Marius in the West End production of “Les Misérables” and “Titanic” at Charing Cross Theatre) as Gibran’s teenage self. They are joined by  Adam Linstead as Farris, Soophia Foroughi as Mother, Nadeem Crowe as Karim, Irvine Iqbal as Bishop Bulos Galib and Sami Lamine  as Mansour Bey Galib  with Robert Hannouch 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 features  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. It is directed by Bronagh Lagan.

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/.