Amina Khayyam Dance Company: Bibi Rukiya’s Reckless Daughter

She bemoans her mother for trapping her in cultural constraints dictated by men... why is she exercising their will?

The much-anticipated new dance-theatre production BIBI RUKIYA’S RECKLESS DAUGHTER from choreographer Amina Khayyam will premiere at Birmingham Hippodrome on 22 and 23 May 2025, followed by a national tour.

BIBI RUKIYA’S RECKLESS DAUGHTER explores the conditioned patriarchy enforced by women within family structures. Set in contemporary inner city marginalised new migrant communities, and loosely based on Federico García Lorca's "The House of Bernarda Alba", the story follows 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.

Her daughters react in different ways - one of them, driven by her own aspirations, challenges her mother’s motives and role as a woman.

The piece was developed over 18 months through an extensive programme of outreach workshops with women's community groups nationwide. Participants worked with professional artists from the Amina Khayyam Dance Company to examine the roles, responsibilities and sacrifices of mothers and daughters and took part in weekly workshops, rehearsals and final performances. The workshops informed the content of this new piece so it explores real-life experiences.

Using Kathak’s storytelling form, Amina Khayyam approaches this generational conflict through an exploration of feminism in these communities. “There is a fallacy amongst our communities, deeply rooted in cultural practices, that our women should suffer – licensing the men in their families (husbands, fathers, sons) the power to dictate ‘a way of life’ for them. Since it’s been happening for centuries, it’s become the norm to accept and endure whatever gets thrown at them. In our workshops and Performance Forums I’ve explored Bibi Rukiya as a conflicted figure – seeking empowerment while remaining deeply conditioned by societal norms. In these women-only environments, it was refreshing to see their ability and willingness to challenge and question themselves – a dynamic I’m bringing to the stage” says Artistic Director Amina Khayyam.

Venue: Birmingham Hippodrome, Patrick Studio

Date: Thursday 22 May – Friday 23 May 2025

3 performances – 12:00pm Thursday and 7:15pm both days

Tickets are on sale here https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/bibi-rukiyas-reckless-daughter/

Visit https://aminakhayyamdance.co.uk/bibi-rukiya for further information