Baghdad Wedding

Soho Theatre is an intimate space. On wooden benches, nudged in close to fellow audience members, all reactions: sighs and laughter, anger and empathy to Hassan Abdulrazzak’s debut play, Baghdad Wedding, are magnified, and, for a while we feel the intensity and atmosphere of a situation that is going on now, every day, to people like us.

For that is the message of this ambitious play: the Iraqis are no different to you and me.
They’re trying to get on with their everyday lives,  but under the black cloud of war.

What makes the play-  directed by Lisa Goldman, the theatre’s new Artistic Director -  terrific is the energetic acting from the whole cast, as they recreate an Iraqi culture through animated storytelling. 
They dance at weddings, smoke shisha in coffee shops and the men hug each other with such lack of inhibition never seen with the reserved English.

The focus upon the relationship between three friends: the narrator, Marwan (Nitzan Sharron),  racy novelist and medical student, Salim (Matt Rawle) and Luma ( Sirine Saba )  is a wonderful central theme that keeps the story alive.
We empathise as they go from meeting in London as carefree students - with a bond created by their shared memories of Baghdad -  to returning to Iraq to face war and the deaths of loved ones.

Their friends in Iraq: Omar (Rohan Siva) and Kathum (Silis Carson) are there for them through joy and tears: from the excitement of Salim’s two weddings to the funerals of family and friends.

There is a harrowing scene when the American soldiers attack Iraqui insurgents. The actors jump from the theatre’s balconies, and run between seats as the smoke and lighting effects recreate the frightening sights and sounds of war.
But whilst this is a provocative play there is almost too much going, and as a result  feels, at times,  unfocussed. Some scenes could be cut and wouldn’t be missed.

Salim’s experience of being held and interrogated by American soldiers, while wonderfully acted, didn’t feel altogether believable, with some of the dialogue undeveloped.
But that is not to detract from the importance of this work and all credit is due to the Soho Theatre and Hassan Abdulrazzak for bringing the issue of Iraq to the forefront of theatre.


Isobel Diamond

Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, London, W1D 3NE
Until 21st July

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