‘Congratulations! Your pain is commercially viable.’
It’s 1991 and the Gulf War rages three thousand, three hundred and twenty miles away. Darlee is 8 years old, crying behind the wheely book case in Miss Stratford’s classroom. She’s just realised she’s Iraqi. Or half. Maybe both.
She saw it on the news last night after Neighbours and fish fingers. Heard the fear slipping through the receiver, saw it oozing from Dad’s eyeballs and into the living room as he tried to phone home.
What she can’t process now, she’ll be haunted by later; the spirits hounding her will make sure of that…
‘Operation Desert Storm; you won’t lose a wink of sleep over it. Except your Daddy. Your Daddy’s shitting his pants. Enjoy your Viennetta.’
Baghdaddy is a playfully devastating coming-of-age story, told through clowning and memory to explore the complexities of cultural identity, generational trauma and a father-daughter relationship amidst global conflict.
Jasmine Naziha Jones’s debut play was developed as part of an Introduction to Playwriting group at the Royal Court. Royal Court Associate Milli Bhatia (seven methods of killing kylie jenner) directs.
Post-Show Talk Tue 29 Nov
A Q&A with writer Jasmine Naziha Jones. This event is free with a ticket to that evening’s performance.
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs
Mon – Sat: 7.30pm (except 24 Nov, 7pm)
Thu & Sat matinees: 2.30pm (from 26 Nov)
We support audience members, unless medically exempt, to wear face coverings throughout the venue and in the auditorium, out of respect for others, and in support of the cast. Read full details about your visit to the Royal Court here.
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Access Performances
If you are a wheelchair user, please contact the Box Office to arrange your tickets. We are experiencing a temporary issue with our access booking system. Find out more here.
Captioned: Wed 7 Dec at 7.30pm & Thu 15 Dec at 2.30pm
Audio Described: Sat 17 Dec at 2.30pm (Touch Tour at 1pm)
Relaxed: Sat 10 Dec at 2.30pm
Image by Niall McDiarmid
The Company
Choose a date
- Concessions Preview Press Night Matinee Captioned Audio-described
Sat 17 Dec 2.30pm
Audio Described performance (with a Touch Tour at 13:00)