The Kite Runner is a mesmerising production based on the cult classic novel by Khaled Hosseini. It tells the poignant tale of childhood friendship forced apart by trauma and their countries deep divisions. Hassan and Amir are boyhood friends who enjoy the thrill of kite flying tournaments, chasing after the darting kites as they fly across the Kabul sky. Set in Afghanistan at a time of serious political unrest, this is an encapsulating coming of age story that depicts the importance of friendship and bravery when facing up to abuse. The egregious cost of violence, both private and political, is made excruciatingly clear and although it’s set in a different time and place, this is a message all too relatable to the events of today. The production has been likened to the National Theatre’s War Horse in terms of its incredible transition from page to stage and it promises to be a fascinating portrayal of these young lives that get entangled in the claws of war.

Tue 13 Mar – Sat 24 Mar, The Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Broad Street, Birmingham, B12 EP. 2.00pm/7.30pm, £10-£15. www.birmingham-rep.co.uk