The Kite Runner

How does one start to take Khaled Hosseini’s epic novel to the stage? What do you keep, what do you lose? Matthew Spangler seems to have the key, and his brilliant adaptation makes for one of the most intensely moving theatrical experiences I have experienced. A superb cast, beautifully directed and led by stunning performances from Ben Turner and Farshid Rokey against a soundscape of tabla and a strikingly simple set had the audience silent until the curtain when they rose almost as one to applaud. This narrated story, spanning two continents and many years, could easily have been a cluttered mess, but the sparing production had real clarity and real heart. Moments of touching beauty contrasted with stark and brutal realities, humanity and inhumanity – a triumph of theatrical ingenuity.

Theatre Royal Brighton, 23 May 2013

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