Leeds Playhouse announces powerful new production of Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns

The spiritual sequel to The Kite Runner, a new production of A Thousand Splendid Suns will be presented as part of the theatre’s Spring/Summer 2025 season.

This unflinching, life affirming drama, in which love grows and sustains the human spirit even during the hardest of times, is being presented by Leeds Playhouse with Birmingham Rep and Nottingham Playhouse. The play opens in Birmingham ahead of transferring to the Quarry Theatre at Leeds Playhouse from 28 May 2025.

Directed by Roxana Silbert (former Birmingham Rep and Hampstead Theatre Artistic Director), A Thousand Splendid Suns is set in 1992 in Afghanistan ravaged by war. Orphaned Laila is left alone in an increasingly threatening world, but her older neighbour Rasheed is quick to open his home to take Laila as his second wife.

Rasheed's first wife Mariam has no choice but to accept her younger, and now pregnant, rival. As the Taliban take over, life for all of them becomes a desperate struggle against starvation, brutality and fear, and the two women find themselves unlikely allies.

A Thousand Splendid Suns will run at the Quarry Theatre, Leeds Playhouse from 28 May - 14 June 2025. 

Tickets are on sale to Leeds Playhouse’s Priority Access, Playhouse Pass Members and Under 30 Members from 24 September, with tickets on general sale from 1 October. Visit leedsplayhouse.org.uk to find out further information.