“Striking, emotional and deeply moving.”

Bibi Rukiya’s Reckless Daughter

22 May 2025

Birmingham Hippodrome, Patrick Studio

Mo Cross Reviews

I was lucky enough to attend the premiere of Bibi Rukiya’s Reckless Daughter at the Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio last night. I wasn’t sure what to expect from something billed as a “dance-theatre” production, but this performance blew me away with the emotional depth of the story and characters delivered over 70 minutes without a single word spoken. 

This new work from choreographer Amina Khayyam is loosely based on Federico García Lorca’s play The House of Bernarda Alba, the story of a house of women in rural Spain living under the thumb of a widowed matriarch. The play has been adapted many times since it was first performed in 1945, with translations into English, Hindi, and Arabic, and seems to strike a chord with audiences all across the world. 

In this adaptation, set in contemporary marginalised new migrant communities, the cast of four talented dancers use the South Asian dance form Kathak to tell the story of Bibi Rukiya, a widow who has confined her three daughters in response to societal pressure to preserve her family’s reputation and secure their marriages.

Despite their mother’s fears and expectations revolving around the opinions of men, there is not a single male character on the stage, creating a space to explore the question of what happens when it’s the women in your life who are pushing you to conform to the world’s idea of what a woman should be? 

The production was developed over 18 months through an extensive programme of outreach workshops with women’s community groups nationwide, who worked with the Amina Khayyam Dance Company to inform the content of this new piece so it explores real-life experiences. I think this is what made the characters so instantly recognizable, and the performance so striking from start to finish. 

From the eldest daughter, striving to follow in her mother’s footsteps despite her unhappiness, the middle child torn between responsibility and youth, and the youngest daughter in full blown rebellion, we have all known or been one or more of these women. Their acting was just as impressive as their dancing, and combined with the choreography I found myself on the edge of my seat hoping they could succeed in freeing themselves from the shackles of expectation. 

The choreography managed to convey such strong imagery, from the opening scene of Bibi Rukiya reckoning with widowhood, to her youngest daughter stamping in defiance as she rallies her sisters to her side in defiance. Repetition was used so effectively throughout the dances to show both the mother’s influence over her daughters, pulling them back into dances they no longer wanted to be part of, and the reckless daughter’s desire to break free and take her sisters with her. 

The combination of live music, dance and the incredible acting of this talented company made for an emotional evening. I’d never seen Kathak danced before, but really enjoyed the angular, modern elements that blended with the softer, lyrical style. The choreography really embodied the struggle the characters were facing within themselves. I couldn’t hate Bibi Rukiya, as you knew in the end she craved the love and freedom that her daughters were seeking. But while sometimes the sisters seemed like pillars of strength supporting each other to break the cycle of silence, all too easily they were forced back to the same dance of subservience.

Overall, it was a deeply moving performance that stayed with me long after I’d left my seat. Tonight’s show is already sold out but if you’ve grabbed a ticket you’re in for a fantastic evening. Don’t pass up the chance to see a future performance from the Amina Khayyam Dance Company when they next grace the stage.