'The Prime Minister and his cabinet should take a brief course in political illumination. They should go to see Baghdad Wedding. Hot theatre.'
Nicholas de Jongh, Evening Standard ****

'At a time when certain Muslim doctors seem hell-bent on killing rather that curing and the murderous ways of Baghdad are being exported to Britain, there could hardly be a more timely play than this. But the great joy of Hassan Abdulrazzak's remarkable dramatic debut is that it is funny as well as harrowing, and discovers glimpses of hope amid the chaos and violence... Lisa Goldman directs a lucid production that finds all the play's strengths, and the leading roles are splendidly played... Nitzan Sharron is touching as Marwan... Matt Rawle is superbly charismatic as the glamorous, amoral hero... Sirine Saba is alluringly strong and sexy as a rebellious, free-spirited Iraqi woman... This is undoubtedly an important, topical play. Better yet, it is also superbly entertaining.'
Charles Spencer, The Telegraph

'A highly arresting debut… Lisa Goldman's vibrant, well-judged production feels well timed and salutary… What impresses are the play's fresh, vivid insights into the difficulties and contradictions of life during the war for Iraqis. A blackly funny and irreverent first play.'
Paul Taylor, The Independent ****

'Hassan Abdulrazzak’s Baghdad Wedding hits its mark... with its own distinctive voice... Lisa Goldman’s production fizzes with energy... Abdulrazzak writes sharp, witty dialogue, builds tension, holds the attention, and does much that one would expect of a seasoned dramatist... We’ve heard all about the agonies of Baghdad before... but here’s a play that will make you see and feel it afresh.'
Benedict Nightingale, The Times ****

'Baghdad Wedding, a first play by Hassan Abdulrazzak, a London-based Iraqi playwright, is exhilarating... The dialogue is quick, sardonic, full of character... Lisa Goldman, the new artistic head of the theatre, directs with flair: it's a flying start to regime change at Soho.'
Susannah Clapp, The Observer

'Adulrazzak’s text is beautifully written, highly imaginative and emotionally true - it’s a great mix of anger, humour and poetry, spiced with a fine perception of the workings of the human heart. Fluidly directed with great flair by Lisa Goldman, this production offers a satisfying mixture of laughter and horror… A thrilling experience.'
Aleks Sierz, The Stage

'Hassan Abdulrazzak... does an admirable job in reminding us of the way private lives intersect with public tragedy. It is a measure of the success of Lisa Goldman's production that it effortlessly interweaves the multiple narrative strands. Matt Rawle captures Salim's mixture of intellectual arrogance and suffering victimhood; and there is first-rate support from Nitzan Sharron as the modest narrator, Sirine Saba as the duty-driven Luma and Emilio Doorgasingh, who doubles remarkably as an embittered Iraqi insurgent and a lordly US interrogator. In less than two hours, Abdulrazzak not only covers an enormous amount of territory, he also reminds us of the infinite human contradictions within any nation.'
Michael Billington, The Guardian

'Baghdad Wedding kept me riveted throughout. Matt Rawle and Nitzan Sharron as the two male protagonists are superb, capturing the various nuances of their impressively well rounded characters, and the supporting cast is also terrific. In addition, the play serves to stake out Goldman’s ground – one presumes it indicates the kind of topical and provocative drama she is interested in producing at Soho - and hopefully we will see more of the same in this pivotal venue for new writing. Theatre can be political and entertaining in equal measure and this is amply demonstrated by Abdulrazzak’s astonishing debut.'
Lucy Popescu, Theatreworld