A Thousand Splendid Suns comes to Lighthouse Poole in 2027
Birmingham Rep's stage version of A Thousand Splendid Suns plays Lighthouse Poole from 11 to 15 May 2027, with tickets on general sale from 25 September.
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A Thousand Splendid Suns is coming to Poole. Birmingham Rep's stage adaptation of Khaled Hosseini's novel plays Lighthouse, Poole's arts centre on Kingland Road, from Tuesday 11 to Saturday 15 May 2027, the Bournemouth Echo reported on 24 September 2026.
The run is one stop on a national tour. British Theatre Guide lists Poole among twelve venues after the opening at Birmingham Rep in early 2027, with the tour ending on 29 May.
What is the play about?
The play follows two women in Afghanistan across several decades of war. Mariam and Laila are married to the same man, Rasheed, and move from rivalry to an alliance as the Taliban take control and daily life turns into a fight against hunger and violence. The novel is Hosseini's follow-up to The Kite Runner.
According to Lighthouse's event page, the book has sold more than 38 million copies worldwide. The stage version is by Ursula Rani Sarma and was first co-produced by Birmingham Rep, Nottingham Playhouse and Leeds Playhouse. For the tour, Kimberley Sykes directs and Rina Fatania returns as Mariam, British Theatre Guide reports. The Rep's 2025 run sold out.
The production comes with a long list of content warnings, including violence, sexual assault, domestic abuse, suicide, underage marriage and strong language. It is not a family night out.
How do you get tickets?
General sale opens on Friday 25 September 2026, after priority booking for Lighthouse's Friends members earlier in the month. Evening shows start at 7pm, with 2pm matinees on the Wednesday and the Saturday. Tickets are sold through Lighthouse's own website and box office, which lists its phone hours on the event page.
Five days sounds like plenty, but a production that sold out its first run may not last to May. If you have a particular date in mind, book it when general sale opens rather than waiting for the spring.
What it means for visitors
A May theatre trip is a good reason for a spring break on the coast. Lighthouse sits in Poole town centre, a few minutes' walk from Poole railway station, so it is a short train ride from Bournemouth; the Bournemouth Guide's page on getting around without a car covers the trains and buses between the two towns.
Make a day of it on the quayside first. The guide's local guide to Poole covers the Quay and the old town, and our own things to do in Poole has the harbour, Brownsea and Sandbanks. For dinner before a 7pm curtain, the guide's restaurant listings include several Poole kitchens.
If you want to stay close to Poole, where to stay in Poole compares the Quay, Sandbanks and Ashley Cross, and our serviced apartments near Poole page shows the options from a Bournemouth base. Mid-May sits between the Easter and summer peaks, so our May events round-up gives a sense of what else runs that month. Booking far ahead? The Help Centre explains how to change or extend your dates if plans move.
Closer to home this season, the BIC and Pavilion autumn line-up has the big shows in Bournemouth.
Frequently asked questions
From Tuesday 11 to Saturday 15 May 2027. Evening performances start at 7pm, with 2pm matinees on the Wednesday and the Saturday, according to the Bournemouth Echo's report of the venue's announcement.
The production carries content warnings for violence, sexual assault, domestic abuse, suicide, underage marriage and strong language, among others. Check the age guidance on Lighthouse's event page before booking for younger teenagers.
