Under the Shadow
Based on the film by Babak Anvari, Adapted by Carmen Nasr, Directed by Nadia Latif
Event details
Tue 2 Jun – Sat 4 Jul 2026
They travel on the wind, just like that missile, and they only land once they find someone to possess.
Babak Anvari’s BAFTA-winning film, acclaimed as a ★★★★★ “ghostly Iranian gem” (The Observer), is reimagined by Carmen Nasr in this suspenseful stage adaptation, directed by Nadia Latif and featuring a cast led by Leila Farzad (I Hate Suzie; Kaos).
When Shideh’s husband is conscripted to serve on the frontline, she is left alone with her young daughter as Tehran is bombed. As the missiles strike, something more ancient and malevolent is carried on the wind.
The world premiere adaptation of this “gripping thriller” (The Hollywood Reporter), set amid the 1980s Iran-Iraq War, explores the boundary between the rational and the irrational, and the question of whether to leave or stay.
Evenings 7.30pm
Matinees 2pm
Content Warnings Recommended for ages 14+. Read more about our production guidance and warnings>
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Cast & Creatives
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Cast
Nadia Albina
Bijan Daneshmand
Souad Faress
Leila Farzad
Mona Goodwin
Nicholas Karimi
Rachid Sabitri
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Child Cast
Jago Agrawal
Esma Akar
Rohan Berry
Atlanta Chaniac Golding
Adi Gimziunas
Erin Jemmotte
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Creatives
Babak Anvari
Original Film
Carmen Nasr
Adaptor
Nadia Latif
Director
Ben Stones
Set Designer
Khadija Raza
Costume Designer
James Farncombe
Lighting Designer
Donato Wharton
Sound Designer
Anna Cooper CDG
Casting Director
Amy Beadle
Children's Casting Director
Scott Penrose
Magic Consultant
Kev McCurdy
Fight Director
Layla Madanat
Assistant Director
Olivia WardOlivia Ward
Costume Supervisor
Olivia Ward
For the Almeida:
As Costume Supervisor: “Daddy” A Melodrama; The Wave (Young Company); (This Isn’t) A True Story (Young Company).
Theatre includes:
As Costume Supervisor: The Collaboration; The Second Woman; Nachtland; Beneatha’s Place (Young Vic); Kabul Goes Pop (Brixton House); We Started to Sing (Arcola Theatre); Othello (Shakespeare’s Globe); Hamlet (RSC); John Gabriel Borkman (Bridge Theatre); The Trials (Donmar Warehouse).
As Assistant Supervisor: Plenty (Chichester Festival Theatre); Hamlet (Young Vic); Ballet Shoes (National Theatre); Shucked (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre).
As Associate Costume Designer: Macbeth (Wessex Grove); A Face in The Crowd (Young Vic).
Mary HallidayMary Halliday
Props Supervisor
Mary Halliday
Theatre includes: Stranger Things: The First Shadow; Clueless The Musical; Unicorn; Aspects of Love; An American in Paris; What’s It All About? Bacharach Reimagined; Glengarry Glen Ross; Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (West End); The Hunger Games: On Stage (Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre); Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (West End/ International tour); Moulin Rouge! The Musical (West End/ Musical Dome, Germany/ UK tour); Cabaret; Kiss Me, Kate (Barbican); Medea; Kyoto (@sohoplace); Fear of 13 (Donmar Warehouse); Anything Goes; South Pacific (Barbican/ UK tour); My Fair Lady (London Coliseum/ UK tour); The King and I; Waitress The Musical; Everybody’s Talking About Jamie; Beautiful – The Carole King Musical; The Book of Mormon (West End/ UK tour); 101 Dalmatians (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); Fiddler on the Roof (Menier Chocolate Factory/ West End); Don Quixote (RSC/ West End); Lazarus (Kings Cross Theatre).
Access Performances
Audio Described Sat 27 Jun, 2pm (Touch Tour 12pm)
Captioned Fri 19 Jun, 7.30pm
Relaxed Environment Wed 24 Jun, 2pm & 7.30pm
For full information about how to book for our access performances please visit our Access For All page.
Concessions
All concession tickets are limited and subject to availability. Proof of eligibility is required. Concessions in the final week of performances are only valid on access performances or for Deaf and disabled bookings. More info
Deaf and disabled patrons and a companion can buy discounted tickets by calling the Box Office on 020 7359 4404 or email boxoffice@almeida.co.uk.
£5 tickets will be available to those aged 25 and under for performances from Tue 2 Jun – Mon 8 Jun. Enter code 25UNDER when selecting your seats. £5 Tickets go on sale Tue 19 May at 5pm. More info
If you are aged 30 or under, over 65 or are unemployed you can book tickets at a discounted rate. Not applicable on Thu, Fri, or Sat.
A limited number of discounted tickets are available for school bookings. These range from £15 (restricted view) to £35 on Mon, Tue and Wed performances only, excluding the final week. For more information or to book, please call the Box Office on 020 7359 4404 or email boxoffice@almeida.co.uk
If you live or work in the Islington area you can book discounted tickets for all performances, subject to availability. Enter promo code ISFIRST when selecting your seats – available from 2 – 10 Jun (excluding 9 Jun). Find applicable postcodes here.
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Talks & Events
Talkback
After Thu 11 and Thu 25 Jun performances.
A post-show talk with members of the company. Free to same-day ticket holders.
Almeida For Free
Thu 18 Jun 7.30pm
A free performance and festival of events exclusively for those aged 25 and under. Sign up to our emails for Tickets & Events for 16-25s to be notified when tickets are available.
Production Supporters
Under the Shadow is supported by Dianne Roberts and Cockayne Grants for the Arts, a Donor Advised Fund, held at The Prism Charitable Trust.
