Tag Archives: Emilio Doorgasingh

The Kite Runner – 4*

 

The Kite Runner

Playhouse Theatre

Opening Night – 19th June 2017

 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

“Truly memorable performances”

 

 

After a successful run at Wyndnam’s Theatre, The Kite Runner returns to London for a limited season at the Playhouse until the end of August.

Adapting such a well known, international best selling novel for the stage is a huge risk but Matthew Spangler manages to successfully transfer this evocative and powerful story from page to stage well.

With David Ahmad as Amir the scene is set with narratives delivered direct to the audience explaining the intricacies of the friendships and lives of 2 very different boys, highlighting key events which will turn their lives upside down. David plays the role of both Amir the boy and the man. Although he plays the part of Amir the man well there is something lacking with Amir the boy – the innocence feels like it’s missing. However, Andrei Costin as Hassan/Sohrab provides the character with a haunting innocence that portrays the sense of a truly good person. You immediately warm to him and instinctively want to protect him.

Emilio Doorgasingh gives a stand out performance as the incredibly proud Baba. Towering over the other characters physically he has a presence that portrays an innate strength despite the fact that he is carrying a secret which conflicts with his strong moral code. A truly memorable performance comes from Bhavia Bhatt as the abhorrent and evil Assef.

The simple set takes you through the years and transfers you from continent to continent without distracting from the acting.

This is a heartbreaking story which makes for a great stage play. The pockets of humour sprinkled throughout provide a welcoming lightness although I had an expectation that the play would be more emotionally charged.

A thoroughly enjoyable play but I felt that it slightly lacked in emotion to make it a truly wonderful production.

 

Reviewed by Angela East

 

Production Photography by Irina Chira

 

 

at The Playhouse Theatre

until August 26th

 

 

 

 

The Kite Runner’s incredible, critically acclaimed West End stage success continues to soar to new heights!

The production’s second West End season of the year at the Playhouse Theatre is being extended by a month to 26 August

Emilio Doorgasingh has been nominated Best Actor of the Year in Eastern Eye’s Arts Culture & Theatre Awards for The Kite Runner’s West End premiere

And The Kite Runner will tour 11 cities and towns across the UK from 31 August with more dates to be announced for 2018

 

After winning rave reviews at Wyndham’s Theatre, receiving standing ovations at every show and captivating an audience of 60,000 theatregoers earlier this year, The Kite Runner announced that it would fly again in the West End in a strictly limited 8-week season at the Playhouse Theatre from 8 June.

 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY IRINA CHIRA

CLICK ON AN IMAGE FOR FULL SIZE

 

David Ahmad now plays the show’s narrator, Amir.

New to the West End cast are Ravi Aujla, Umar Pasha Jay Sajjid and Karl Seth.

Emilio Doorgasingh, who is returning to the show in the pivotal role of Baba, was nasmed Best Actor of the Year in the annual Eastern Eye Arts Culture & Theatre Awards for The Kite Runner’s West End premiere at Wyndham’s Theatre.

Emilio is returning to the show at the Playhouse Theatre together with Andrei Costin as Hassan, Lisa Zahra, Ezra Khan, Bhavin Bhatt and Tabla musician Hanif Khan.

Producers recently announced a major 11-venue UK tour following the West End season. The Kite Runner will open at Nottingham Playhouse (31 Aug – 9 Sept) then visit Glasgow Theatre Royal (11 – 16 Sept), Leeds West Yorkshire Playhouse (19 – 23 Sept), Cambridge Arts Theatre (25 – 30 September), Salford Lowry (3 – 7 Oct) , Edinburgh King’s Theatre (9 – 14 Oct), Sheffield Lyceum (17 – 21 Oct), Cheltenham Everyman (30 Oct – 4 Nov), Bath (6 – 11 Nov), Brighton Theatre Royal (14 – 18 Nov), Exeter Northcott Theatre (21- 25 Nov).

 

Further 2018 tour dates will be announced soon.

 

 

THE KITE RUNNER

Adapted by Matthew Spangler
Based on the best-selling novel by Khaled Hosseini

8 June – 26 August 2017

Playhouse Theatre
Northumberland Avenue,
London
WC2N 5DE

 

TheKiteRunnerPlay.com