Through exquisite poetry and bittersweet memories, Kahlil Gibran transports us back to turn-of-the-twentieth-century Beirut. Aged eighteen, he falls deeply in love with Selma, the only daughter of family friend and hugely respected local businessman, Farris Karamy. However, Selma soon becomes betrothed to Mansour Bey Galib, the nephew of the powerful Bishop Bulos Galib, who has one eye on the Karamy family fortune. Gibran and Selma must fight to reconcile their love for one another, whilst navigating the rules, traditions and expectations that their society lays before them. The events of 'The 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 significance of 'home'.
This moving autobiographical account of Kahlil Gibran's first love is now presented in a new adaptation by Nadim Naaman; co-composer and book-writer of 'Broken Wings', the critically acclaimed stage version of this timeless and poetic novel, which premiered in London's West End in 2018 and has since toured The Middle East.
