No longer booking
  • Venue Young Vic Theatre, London
  • Performance dates Booking to 31 January 2026
  • Running time 2 hours 30 minutes (including interval)
  • Age guidelines 14+

Get tickets to Rajiv Joseph’s explosive and darkly comic play Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, coming to the Young Vic in London.

A high-octane, funny yet moving examination of the futility of war, this Pulitzer and Tony-nominated play receives its highly anticipated European Premiere, directed by Omar Elerian (Rhinoceros).

Starring Peter Forbes (Follies), Olivier Award-nominee Arinzé Kene (Alterations, Misty), Ammar Haj Ahmad (The Jungle), and Hala Omran (I Medea), Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo is a surreal and profoundly dark comedy that will have you questioning the very nature of existence.

Book Tickets for Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo

Tickets for Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo are expected to sell quickly. Don’t miss your chance to witness this explosive and darkly comic production at the Young Vic Theatre, from 4 December 2025 to 31 January 2026.

When an atheist suddenly finds himself walking around after death, he has got some serious re-evaluating to do.

Iraq, well into the new millennium. A fast-talking Tiger haunts the streets, plagued by a fundamental question: “Why am I here?”.

And he’s not the only one.

US forces have long since toppled Saddam Hussein, yet Baghdad remains aflame. In the chaos, the lives of American Marines Tom and Kev collide with Iraqi translator Musa after their chance encounters with the Tiger. Iraqi or American, man or beast, they are all searching for meaning, revenge, forgiveness, and a solid gold toilet seat that’s worth a fortune.

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Performance Information

Check booking calendar for full details

Stars and Creatives

Who is in the cast of Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo?

Starring Peter Forbes as Tiger, Arinzé Kene as American Marine Kev, Ammar Haj Ahmad as Musa and Hala Omran as Iraqi woman/Leper, Patrick Gibson as Tom, Sara Masry as Hadia/Iraqi Teenager and Sayyid Aki as Uday/Iraqi Man.

Note: David Threlfall has withdrawn from the production due to illness.

Who are the creative team of Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo?

  • Written by Rajiv Joseph
  • Directed by Omar Elerian
  • Designer Rajha Shakiry
  • Lighting Designer Jackie Shemesh
  • Sound Designer Elena Peña
  • Movement Director Annie-Lunnette Deakin-Foster
  • Casting Director Heather Basten CDG
  • Dialect Coach Khaled Abunaama
  • Voice and Dialect Coach Hazel Holder
  • Costume Supervisor Male Arcucci
  • Props Supervisor Kate Margretts
  • Jerwood Assistant Director Layla Madanat
  • Associate Designer Yimei Zhao

Important Notes

Content warning: This show contains: Guns & gunshots, Strong language including homophobic and racist slurs, Sexual content including discussion of sexual assault and depictions of sex work, Suicide and self-harm, War, murder, injury, violence and torture

Note: David Threlfall has withdrawn from the production due to illness.

Access Performances:

  • BSL Performance (BSL interpreter Vinessa Brant): 14 Jan, 2.30pm & 16 Jan, 7.30pm
  • Captioned Performances (captioned by Miranda Yates): 10 Jan, 2.30pm & 23 Jan, 7.30pm
  • Relaxed Performances: 10 Jan, 2.30pm & 21 Jan, 7.30pm
  • Audio Described Performances: 17 Jan, 2.30pm and 22 Jan, 7.30pm

Venue Information

Young Vic Theatre , 66 The Cut, London, SE1 8LZ

Nearest Tube or Train: Waterloo (Jubilee line, Northern line, Bakerloo line); Southwark (Jubilee line)

Nearest Buses: 40, 60, N63, N89, 1, 68, 168, 172, 176, 188

Directions

Google Apple

Critics' reviews of Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo

★★★★★ "Funny, profound, must-see theatre" - The Telegraph

★★★★ "Bracingly unconventional" - The Guardian

★★★★ "Wickedly funny" - The Standard

★★★★ "Kathryn Hunter is superb" - TimeOut

★★★★ "Immensely powerful" - London Theatre

★★★★ "Rajiv Joseph’s madly surreal, bleakly funny and quietly humane piece" - Financial Times

Frequently Asked Questions

Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo is playing at the Young Vic Theatre in London
The running time of Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo is 2 hours 30 minutes (including interval)
The age recommendations for Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo are: 14+
Yes, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo has matinee performances on the following days: Wednesday, Saturday
No, sorry, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo has now completed its run and is no longer on sale.

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