Baghdaddy at the Royal Court Theatre
Baghdaddy, the debut show by Jasmine Naziha Jones, is one of those rare gems that appear once every few years in London – a production that, on paper, is entirely meh. Just another new writer putting their personal story onto the page; different people, but very often a story of everyday family life and facing challenges or discrimination or adversity, often because of the circumstances of their birth. How often have we seen that? How often does it really excite anyone? On one hand, Baghdaddy is very much just another one of these shows, on the other, it’s anything but.
This is a coming-of-age story about a half-Iraqi girl growing up in the UK against the backdrop of the Gulf and Iraq wars, covering themes of a father-daughter relationship, cultural identity, the effects of global conflict and generational trauma. And it is beautiful. And it is relentless.
A five-star comedy is one that makes you laugh so loud that you feel self-conscious but even then you can’t stop yourself guffawing at the next punchline. A five-star tragedy makes your eyes genuinely well up and actual tears run down your face. Baghdaddy does both.
To be a talented writer is a gift, and to be a talented actor is a gift – to be both is just unfair. Jasmine Naziha Jones hasn’t just written the perfect play but also puts in the perfect performance as the star, showing tremendous range and ability. And, alongside her, every single member of the cast is equally brilliant. Philip Arditti, Souad Faress, Hayat Kamille and Noof Ousellam are all world-class, especially given the demands of Jones’s script and the expert direction.
Speaking of, director Milli Bhatia is possibly a genius. There doesn’t seem to be a single rogue choice in the direction, from tiny things that add massively to massive things that, well, also add massively. It really feels like Bhatia has spent a lot of effort to push this cast to interesting spaces and the result is something special.
Everything has come together for Baghdaddy in a way that so rarely happens in theatre. It is definitely a show that everyone should watch but, really, anyone who has an interest in theatre should probably be studying this.
Jim Compton-Hall
Baghdaddy is at the Royal Court Theatre from 18th November until 17th December 2022. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.
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