"The Beekeeper Of Aleppo" by Christy Lefteri.

Adapted for the stage by Nesrin Alrefaai and Matthew Spangler.

Nottingham Playhouse.

The play’s narrator and protagonist is Nuri Ibrahim, a man from Syria. He and his wife Afra have fled from Syria due to the violence of the Syrian Civil War. After a long journey, they have managed to reach London. They are living in a lodging house with other refugees, as they wait to learn whether or not they will be granted asylum.

The play’s main storyline focuses on Nuri and Afra’s journey, which is told in a series of flashbacks as he goes through the immigration process. They lived a peaceful life in the Syrian city of Aleppo. They had a seven-year-old son named Sami. Nuri worked as a beekeeper, which he found very fulfilling. His partner and mentor in this business was his cousin Mustafa. After violence of the war began to spread and to affect Aleppo, Mustafa sent his wife and daughter out of the country. Later, when Mustafa’s son was killed, Mustafa decided to flee the country as well.

At the end of the play, Nuri and Afra reunited with Mustafa and his family. Nuri and Afra have not yet been granted asylum, but they remain hopeful. They also hope that they will be able to return to a peaceful Syria someday.

It's a beautifully written, powerful play full of compassion, love, loss and hope and will not fail to touch you. This is a story that will be topical forever, unfortunately for the people involved in the migration and immigration process.

This really is an ensemble piece of theatre, so I am going to mention the whole cast on the same level of excellence.

Alfred Clay (Nuri), Roxy Faridany (Afra), Joseph Long (Mustafa/ The Moroccan Man), Aram Mardourian (Nadim/Fotakis/Ali) whose parents grew up in Aleppo, Daphne Kouma (The Immigration Officer 2/ Doctor Farouk/ Dahab), Lily Demir (NGO Worker), Elham Mahyoub (Mohammed/ Sami), Nadia Williams (Angeliki/ Lucy Fisher) and Fanos Xenofos (NGO Worker/ Immigration Officer 2).

Directed by Miranda Cromwell, she manages to make you feel that you are on the journey with Nuri, sections of the story also seem quite dreamlike; as if you are inside Nuri's mind, especially towards the end. Was Nuri's flashbacks all in his mind? Definitely an after show talking point.

The set design by Ruby Pugh, and along with the marvellous video design that accompanies this set, it enables the flashback sections to work to the best effect. Ravi Deepres is the film designer. The section when they are on the raft in the sea is horrifying and stunning all at the same time.

Ben Ormerod's lighting design is sharp as anything, punctuated by the sound design, which is by Tingying Dong.

There's original music throughout which has been composed by Elaha Soroor, transporting you to Syria, London and Yorkshire all with the same authentic style of music.

When you hear what this couple went through to escape probable death; their battle to find a safe place to live, you can't help feel a variety of emotions, including human guilt at the way these people were treated in several stages of their journey. You also feel a sense of hate in at least one part of the play.

This is a piece of theatre which will make you think long and hard about the world we live in, and the way some of us treat our fellow man. And a lesson we should all learn by way of this superb production. I now want to read the book.

"The Beekeeper Of Aleppo" is at the Nottingham Playhouse until Saturday 25 February.