Broken Wings is a moving new musical based on Lebanese-born poet Kahlil Gibran’s iconic 1912 masterpiece of the same name.

New York City, 1923. An ageing Gibran narrates from his cold studio. Through poetry and music, he transports us back two decades and across continents, to turn-of-the-century Beirut.

His eighteen-year-old self returns to The Middle East after five years in America, to complete his education and discover more of his heritage. He falls deeply in love with Selma Karamy, the daughter of family friend and hugely respected local businessman, Farris Karamy. However, Selma soon becomes betrothed to Mansour Bey Galib, nephew of the powerful Bishop Bulos Galib, who has one eye on the Karamy family fortune. Gibran and Selma fight to reconcile their love for one another, whilst navigating the rules, traditions and expectations that their society lays before them.

Broken Wings is a moving new musical, telling an autobiographical tale of tragic love. The show is written by Middle Eastern duo Nadim Naaman and Dana Al Fardan, and directed by Bronagh Lagan, with orchestrations by Joe Davison. 

What inspired the acclaimed author of The Prophet to write? What moved him to such profound philosophy in his later life? The events of Broken Wings highlight key issues of the time, yet the themes and debates raised remain increasingly relevant today, over a century later; the fight for gender equality, the freedom to love who we love, tradition versus modernity, wealth versus happiness, immigration and the importance of ‘home’.

Co-Writer Naaman leads the Broken Wings cast as Gibran, the show’s narrator. His co-stars are Nikita Johal (Spring Awakening, Hope Mill Theatre) as Selma Karamy and Rob Houchen (Marius in the West End production of Les Misérables) as Gibran’s teenage self.

Unlike anything else in the West End, Broken Wings is the stirring and sentimental story of a man whose views would transcend nationality, politics and background.