Will Simpson

Theatre · Nottingham Playhouse / West End / Broadway · 2013–2024

The Kite Runner

From Kabul to San Francisco, a journey traced through projected landscapes.

My role: Projection Design

The Kite Runner remains a defining collaboration, a production that has evolved through multiple stagings across the West End, Broadway and North America. Each new version brought a chance to refresh and refine the projection design, finding new ways to carry the story's emotional weight.

City silhouettes, a spreading tree, patterned fabric and changing landscapes appear across the rear screen and folded cloth. The same surfaces shift from an intimate scene between two performers to the full company flying kites.

Broadway was an extraordinary experience: a creative team at the top of their game, a story that connected deeply with audiences, and a sense of shared purpose that is rare to find.

Knowing that the design has helped carry that story to thousands of people across the US is both humbling and deeply fulfilling.

West End

West End: the company flying kites against the projected city
Pl. 01 West End: the company flying kites against the projected city
West End: patterned projection across the opened cloth
Pl. 02 West End: patterned projection across the opened cloth
West End: a landscape across the rear screen and folded cloth
Pl. 03 West End: a landscape across the rear screen and folded cloth
West End: blue texture across the projection surface
Pl. 04 West End: blue texture across the projection surface
West End: a low-lit scene beneath the patterned cloth
Pl. 05 West End: a low-lit scene beneath the patterned cloth

West End promo

Pl. 01 · Film West End promotional film

Broadway

Broadway: the kite scene and projected city
Pl. 01 Broadway: the kite scene and projected city
Broadway: the wedding company surrounded by the blue city projection
Pl. 02 Broadway: the wedding company surrounded by the blue city projection
Broadway: two boys reading beneath the projected tree
Pl. 03 Broadway: two boys reading beneath the projected tree
Broadway: patterned projection across the cloth beside the performers
Pl. 04 Broadway: patterned projection across the cloth beside the performers
Broadway: a textured landscape behind the performers
Pl. 05 Broadway: a textured landscape behind the performers

West End poster

Nighttime posters
Pl. 01 Nighttime posters
The Kite Runner at Wyndham's Theatre, West End poster
Pl. 02 The Kite Runner at Wyndham's Theatre, West End poster

Press Night

George Takei at the Broadway opening night, 21 July 2022. Bruce Glikas / BroadwayWorld
Pl. 01 George Takei at the Broadway opening night, 21 July 2022. Bruce Glikas / BroadwayWorld Source
Laverne Cox at the Broadway opening night, 21 July 2022. Bruce Glikas / BroadwayWorld
Pl. 02 Laverne Cox at the Broadway opening night, 21 July 2022. Bruce Glikas / BroadwayWorld Source
Colin Mochrie at the Broadway opening night, 21 July 2022. Bruce Glikas / BroadwayWorld
Pl. 03 Colin Mochrie at the Broadway opening night, 21 July 2022. Bruce Glikas / BroadwayWorld Source
William Jackson Harper at the Broadway opening night, 21 July 2022. Bruce Glikas / BroadwayWorld
Pl. 04 William Jackson Harper at the Broadway opening night, 21 July 2022. Bruce Glikas / BroadwayWorld Source
Shohreh Aghdashloo at the Broadway opening night, 21 July 2022. Bruce Glikas / BroadwayWorld
Pl. 05 Shohreh Aghdashloo at the Broadway opening night, 21 July 2022. Bruce Glikas / BroadwayWorld Source
Megan Boone at the Broadway opening night, 21 July 2022. Bruce Glikas / BroadwayWorld
Pl. 06 Megan Boone at the Broadway opening night, 21 July 2022. Bruce Glikas / BroadwayWorld Source
Camryn Manheim at the Broadway opening night, 21 July 2022. Bruce Glikas / BroadwayWorld
Pl. 07 Camryn Manheim at the Broadway opening night, 21 July 2022. Bruce Glikas / BroadwayWorld Source
West End opening-night company, 10 January 2017. Source: WhatsOnStage
Pl. 08 West End opening-night company, 10 January 2017. Source: WhatsOnStage Source
Broadway opening night at the Hayes Theater, 21 July 2022. Bruce Glikas / BroadwayWorld
Pl. 09 Broadway opening night at the Hayes Theater, 21 July 2022. Bruce Glikas / BroadwayWorld Source
Credits

Shared creative team

Original production: Nottingham and Liverpool, 2013

  • Co-production
    Nottingham Playhouse Theatre Company and Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse
  • Nottingham Playhouse
    26 April-18 May 2013
  • Liverpool Playhouse
    13 June-6 July 2013
  • Amir
    Ben Turner
  • Hassan
    Farshid Rokey
  • Baba
    Emilio Doorgasingh
  • Soraya
    Lisa Zahra
  • Rahim Khan
    Nicholas Khan
  • Ali
    Ezra Khan
  • Assef
    Nicholas Karimi
  • General Taheri
    Antony Bunsee
  • Kamal
    David Ahmad
  • Wali
    Waleed Akhtar
  • Musician
    Hanif Khan
  • Accent Coach
    Sally Hague
  • Associate Lighting Design
    Katie Pitt
  • Assistant Director
    Allie Spencer

West End: Wyndham's Theatre, 2016-2017

  • Amir
    Ben Turner
  • Hassan / Sohrab
    Andrei Costin
  • Production photography
    Robert Workman

West End: Playhouse Theatre, 2017

  • Amir
    David Ahmad
  • Hassan / Sohrab
    Andrei Costin

Broadway: Hayes Theater, 2022

  • Amir
    Amir Arison
  • Hassan / Sohrab
    Eric Sirakian
  • Baba
    Faran Tahir
  • Soraya
    Azita Ghanizada
  • Rahim Khan
    Dariush Kashani
  • Assef
    Amir Malaklou
  • Ali / Farid
    Evan Zes
  • Associate Projection Design
    Elaine McCarthy
  • Assistant Projection Design
    Ridley Walker
  • Associate Director
    Damian Sandys
  • Cultural Advisor and Script Consultant
    Humaira Ghilzai
  • Production photography
    Joan Marcus

Dubai Opera, 2020

  • Amir
    David Ahmad