A Thousand Splendid Suns brings Khaled Hosseini’s novel to Oxford Playhouse

Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns will come to Oxford Playhouse in April 2027 in a stage adaptation centred on the friendship between two Afghan women.

The production visits from 19 to 24 April as part of a new UK tour. Rina Fatania will return as Mariam in Ursula Rani Sarma’s adaptation, directed by Kimberley Sykes.

The story of Mariam and Laila

Set against the upheavals of Afghanistan, the drama follows Laila after the destruction of her family draws her into the household of Rasheed and his first wife, Mariam.

The women begin as strangers forced into a difficult relationship. Their growing bond becomes the heart of a story about survival, motherhood and the choices people make for those they love, as violence reshapes life both inside and outside their home.

Readers of Hosseini’s novel will recognise its focus on women’s lives across years of conflict. On stage, the relationship between the two central characters carries that history into a shared domestic space.

The production and announced cast

The 2027 tour follows the production’s 2025 performances in Birmingham, Nottingham and Leeds. Birmingham Rep is presenting the tour, with Sykes directing and Simon Kenny designing the set and costumes.

Fatania’s return as Mariam has been announced. Further casting for the tour is still to be announced, so the company from the earlier run should not be assumed to be the cast visiting Oxford.

The Birmingham Rep tour announcement confirms thirteen venues, with more dates to follow.

Accessible performances and tickets

The Thursday 22 April evening performance is captioned. The Saturday 24 April matinee is audio described, with a touch tour also listed. Contact the Playhouse for the touch-tour time and any seating or access arrangements.

The venue recommends the production for audiences aged 14 and over. Its subject matter includes war and the abuse experienced by its central characters, making this a serious drama for older teenagers and adults.

£5 tickets are listed for eligible 14–25-year-olds through the Playhouse’s young-person scheme, subject to availability. The Oxford booking page provides the available seats for each performance.

Getting to Oxford Playhouse

Oxford Playhouse is at 11–12 Beaumont Street, Oxford OX1 2LW, around ten minutes’ walk from Oxford railway station and two minutes from Gloucester Green bus station. The city’s park-and-ride services offer an alternative to driving into the centre.

See the theatre’s travel guidance and access information when choosing seats or planning assistance.

Full announced UK tour dates

Tour information and venue booking links.

Oxford Playhouse exterior photograph: Andrew Walmsley.