Final casting has been confirmed for the world premiere performances of Nadim Naaman and Dana Al Fardan’s Rumi: The Musical at the London Coliseum next month.
As previously announced West End stars Ramin Karimloo and Naaman will follow their performances on the musical’s concept album by playing Rumi and his mentor Tabrizi in the semi-staged concert version of Naaman and Al Fardan’s second stage musical on 23 and 24 November 2021.
Comprised entirely of performers of Middle Eastern, North African and South Asian heritage, the 18-strong London Coliseum cast also includes Casey Al-Shaqsy, Soophia Foroughi, Ahmed Hamad, Yazdan Qafouri, Johan Munir and Benjamin Armstrong, with an ensemble featuring Roshani Abbey, Amira Al Shanti, Eva-Theresa Chokarian, Maëva Feitelson, Sasha Ghoshal, Blythe Jandoo, Ediz Mahmut, Zara Naeem, Mark Samaras and Aliza Vakil.
The cast will be accompanied by a 29-piece orchestra conducted by the show’s orchestrator Joe Davison. Vocal arrangements are by Nikki Davison.
Produced by Ali Matar, Rumi is directed by Bronagh Lagan, with choreography by Anjali Mehra, musical direction and supervision by Joe and Nikki Davison and Middle Eastern musical supervision by Maias Alyamani. Set and costume design is by Gregor Donnelly, with lightning design by Nic Farman, sound design by Simon Hendry, video design by Matt Powell, Aran Cherkez as assistant director, Natalie Pound as assistant musical director and Mark Samaras as assistant choreographer.
Following on from Naaman and Al Fardan’s successful debut musical Broken Wings which was based on Lebanese-born writer Kahlil Gibran’s autobiographical poetic novel, Rumi: The Musical takes its inspiration from the life of another influential figure – 13th century Persian poet Rumi.
Featuring a book by Naaman with music and lyrics by Naaman and Al Fardan and based on a story by Evren Sharma, Rumi: The Musical focuses on the relationship between Rumi and his mentor Shams Tabrizi.
Commenting on the musical Al Fardan said: “Writing Rumi felt like a blessing, during a period of so much upheaval in the world. The show’s emphasis is on looking within ourselves, and accessing the abundant sphere of creative force which shapes our conception of reality. It has been such a healing journey and I can’t wait to share our show with audiences at the London Coliseum.”
Naaman added: “We were so thrilled with the response to the release of the Rumi concept album earlier this year, and to its unique qualities as a piece of theatre. I am so grateful that we now have live performances to look forward to, particularly after the challenges we have all faced as an industry in the recent past. We are hugely grateful to everyone at English National Opera for welcoming Rumi onto the majestic stage of the London Coliseum.”
Recorded during the pandemic in London and Doha and released on Broadway Records, the album features a cast of West End performers of Middle Eastern, North African and South Asian heritage accompanied by The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra.
Angela Thomas
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