Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns coming to Birmingham Stage

The best-selling novel is the powerful story of three generations of women discovering strength in unity and finding hope in the most unlikely of places.

Set in 1992 in a war-torn Afghanistan, an orphaned Laila is left alone in an increasingly threatening world. Her older neighbour Rasheed is quick to open his home and takes Laila as his second wife.

Rasheed’s first wife Mariam has no choice but to accept her younger, and now pregnant, rival.

As the Taliban take over, life becomes a desperate struggle against starvation, brutality and fear, and the two women find themselves unlikely allies.

Director of A Thousand Splendid Suns, Roxana Silbert, said: “In Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns we are given a rare glimpse into 30 years of contemporary Afghan history.

"Thanks to Ursula Rani Sarma’s emotionally stirring adaptation, audiences will be able to bear witness to the extraordinary story of two radiant women who struggle to survive the terrifying political situation they find themselves in. I can’t wait to bring this inspiring and enlightening story to the stage.”

Playwright Ursula Rani Sarma said: “This play is about the immense strength and endurance of women and how they can survive tremendous suffering to keep those they love alive. It is also about how even in the darkest of times and places, love can grow and sustain the human spirit beyond all pain and hard-ship. It’s about friendship and loyalty, courage and selflessness, grief and violence.”

The cast features Sujaya Dasgupta as Laila, Amina Zia as Mariamm and Pal Aron as Rasheed.

Also joining the cast is Waleed Akhtar as Tariq, alongside Munir Khairdin as Jalil and Naveed Khan as Babi.

Ursula Rani Sarma is a scriptwriter for stage and screen. Her previous credits include Delicious, the award-winning film Anywhere But Here, Yerma and The Dark Things.

Khaled Hosseini is one of the most widely read and beloved novelists in the world, with over 38 million copies of his books sold in more than seventy countries. The Kite Runner was a major film and was chosen as a Book of the Decade by The Times, The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian.

A Thousand Splendid Suns was the Richard and Judy Best Read of the Year in 2008.

Hosseini is currently a Goodwill Envoy to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the founder of The Khaled Hosseini Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation which provides humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan. He was born in Kabul, Afghanistan and now lives in northern California.

A Thousand Splendid Suns will be played at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre from Thursday, May 2 until Saturday, May 18.

For more information and to buy tickets, click here.