The Sufi's Nightingale: A song of love and rebellion

BOSTON - EntSun -- The historic Strand Theatre is proud to present the world-premiere musical adaptation of Sarbpreet Singh's acclaimed novel, The Sufi's Nightingale. This transformative musical, written and composed by Singh, will grace the stage for two exclusive performances on September 26 at 5:00 PM and September 27, 2026, at 2:00 PM.

In a commitment to community accessibility, these performances are free to the public, made possible through a The Strand Theater Grant  from the City of Boston.

Based on the bestselling historical novel, the production traces the spiritual metamorphosis of Shah Hussain, a 16th-century scholar turned poet par excellence. The musical weaves together Sufi thought and the spiritual soul of the entire Indian subcontinent through original compositions based on classical Ragas, ecstatic dance, and profound Sufi poetry.

Critical Acclaim for the Novel

The musical builds upon the success of the source novel, which has been hailed as a modern masterpiece of historical fiction:

• "Historical fiction at its finest. Sarbpreet Singh quietly immerses us in the period, till, by the end, one can almost feel the Sufi's breath through the pages." — Manu Pillai, author
• "A brilliant work of historical fiction — relives history while simultaneously undertaking a spiritual journey of love in its purest form." — Telegraph India
• "The elegant text intoxicates and instructs in turns... " — Rana Safvi, historian
• "A fabulous tale that reads as a work of magical realism and highlights the fault lines of caste, gender, and sexuality... to spread love." — The Hindu
• "What a book this is—the prose is like poetry; the poetry reads like the song; and the story flows like the Ravi River." — The New Indian Express

About the Production

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Set in 16th-century Lahore, the narrative follows Hussain's journey from a rigid seminary to the streets, highlighting his relationships with Madho, a young Brahmin lad, and Maqbool, his "nightingale" who voices Hussain's soul-stirring Kafis. The production culminates in a powerful spiritual union at the Darbar of Madho Lal Hussain, celebrating the triumph of love.

Event Details

• Venue: Strand Theatre (https://www.boston.gov/departments/arts-and-culture/strand-theatre), 543 Columbia Road, Boston, MA
• Performance 1: September 26 at 5:00 PM (Includes post-show talkback with the writer/director and cast)
• Performance 2: September 27, 2026, at 2:00 PM
• Tickets: Available at the Strand Theatre Box Office or online at tinyurl.com/SNSTRAND

About the Author & Composer

Sarbpreet Singh is a Boston-based scholar-storyteller, playwright, and composer. He is the creator of the Story of the Sikhs podcast and author of several bestsellers, including The Camel Merchant of Philadelphia and Night of the Restless Spirits. His previous production, Kultar's Mime, has been performed in six countries to critical acclaim. His adaptation of Waris Shah's Heer, based on his original translation, was presented recently in the Boston area. His adaptation of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Jujhar Cheema, set in Punjab in the early 1990s, will be presented in 2027.

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Media Contact:

Diya Misra
diyamisra2005@gmail.com