Amina Khayyam's 'Bibi Rukiya’s Reckless Daughter'
Amina Khayyam explores how women enforce notions of what is ‘correct’ on other women, sustaining patriarchal cultural expectations despite their own struggles. This new kathak dance theatre piece premiered at The Place, London, on November 4, 2025.
Theme and Setting
In Bibi Rukiya’s Reckless Daughter, Khayyam examines the clash between cultural traditions and personal freedom within a contemporary community. The story centers on Bibi Rukiya, who confines her three daughters to secure their marriages and protect the family’s honor and reputation.
Source and Inspiration
The narrative draws loose inspiration from Federico García Lorca’s The House of Bernarda Alba, about five daughters dominated by a widowed mother. However, Khayyam's work is deeply rooted in real-life experiences collected through extensive workshops with women’s community groups.
Performance and Characters
The production features four dancers representing members of the household. While the characters are recognizable, they are portrayed with limited depth. Khayyam herself leads the cast as Bibi Rukiya, and the performers initially dance in unison.
"She turns her attention to how women impose thoughts of what is ‘correct’ on other women and how they perpetuate the same, often patriarchal, cultural expectations they suffered themselves."
"The work has just four dancers, the four members of the household. The characters are all recognisable, if rather drawn with not too much depth or detail."
Author's summary: Amina Khayyam's production reveals the complexities of women enforcing restrictive cultural norms on each other within a family, blending kathak dance with real community stories to challenge tradition.