The Kite Runner has been in Jonathan’s life for over a decade. Matthew Spangler adapted Khaled Hosseini’s book about the epic journey of one man across three continents and many decades to find redemption and some kind of restitution. Giles Croft directed the show in 2013, and it has since had a number of UK and American tours, including two West End runs and a Broadway run. Jonathan was both the Composer and Musical Director on the show.
Jonathan helped create the tabla score with the brilliant Hanif Khan from 2013 in the UK, and this score was adapted for more finely-tuned Afghan rhythms & a larger ensemble of drums by Jonathan in collaboration with Salar Nadar for the Broadway version in 2022. Jonathan also wrote the live vocal music and designed all the live sound-scape for the show, played by the actors and tabla artist, for schwirrbogen, singing bowls, oil drums, and harmonium. In 2024, there was simultaneous tours across the UK & Ireland and North America to great acclaim and tremendous houses.
Thanks to Martin Dodd and UK Productions for its continuing life in the UK and beyond after the wonderful Nottingham Playhouse first commissioned it with Liverpool Playhouse in 2013. Thank you to Drew Baumohl for the recording (and sound-designed of the show).