Broken Wings is a musical based on Kahlil Gibran's 1912 novella of the same title, adapted by Nadim Naaman and Dana Al Fardan. Directed by Bronagh Lagan, the musical premiered at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on the West End in August 2018.
Production Directed by Bronagh Lagan and orchestrated by Joe Davison, Broken Wings had two workshops and released an original concept album in May 2018 via Auburn Jam Music before premiering at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on London's West End in summer 2018. Naaman himself portrayed Gibran, who serves as a narrator. Hiba Elchikhe, who originated the sole of Selma Karamy on the concept album, withdrew the production a week before opening night for personal reasons and was replaced by Nikita Johal. Other original cast members included Rob Houchen, Soophia Foroughi, Adam Linstead, Nadeem Crowe, Irvine Iqbal and Sami Lamine.
After hosting a pre-tour workshop, Broken Wings was showcased at the 2019 Beiteddine Festival in Lebanon, the Katara Opera House in Doha in November 2019, and the Dubai Opera in January 2020. Benjamin Purkiss, Karl Seth and Bethany Weaver were added to the cast. Johal reprised her role as Selma in Lebanon before it was taken over by Hannah Qureshi for the next two legs. In Dubai, Siubhan Harrison stood in for Foroughi, while Yasmeen Audi and Tim Morgan were added.
In 2022, Broken Wings returned to London with a run at the Charing Cross Theatre. The cast featured Noah Sinigaglia, Lucca Chadwick-Patel, Stephen Rahman-Hughes, Johan Munir, Haroun Al Jeddal, Yasmeen Audi and Ayesha Patel. Naaman and Foroughi reprised their roles. A filmed version of the production was started streaming in December 2022.
Cast and characters + Character West End Beiteddine Doha Dubai Off West End 2018 2019 2020 2022 Kahlil Gibran Nadim Naaman Selma Karamy Hiba Elchikhe / Nikita Johal Nikita Johal Hannah Qureshi Noah Sinigaglia Young Kahlil Gibran Rob Houchen Benjamin Purkiss Lucca Chadwick-Patel Farris Karamy Adam Linstead Karl Seth Stephen Rahman-Hughes Mother Soophia Foroughi Siubhan Harrison Soophia Foroughi Karim Bawab Nadeem Crowe Bishop Bulos Galib Irvine Iqbal Karl Seth Tim Morgan Johan Munir Mansour Bey Galib Sami Lamine Haroun Al Jeddal Layla/Leila Bawab Bethany Weaver Yasmeen Audi Dima Bawab colspan="3" Yasmeen Audi Ayesha Patel
Reception The 2022 production at Charing Cross Theatre received negative review from Miriam Gillinson in The Guardian, although she praised the performances of Noah Sinigaglia and Soophia Foroughi. Sam Marlowe of The Times wrote that the musical "often looks and sounds pretty, but it too is maddeningly aimless."
References
External links Website