Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo tickets
About Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
Don’t miss the Pulitzer-nominated play, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, on the London stage for the first time ever. Book Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo tickets on TodayTix.
See Sayyid Aki, Peter Forbes, Patrick Gibson, Ammar Haj Ahmad, Kathryn Hunter, Arinzé Kene, Sara Masry, and Hala Omran on the Young Vic Theatre stage.
Together they bring the black comedy to life, set in war-torn Baghdad following the toppling of Saddam Hussein, this is a story of American Marines whose lives intertwine with a translator and the ghost of a Bengal Tiger that one of the Marines shot. It turns out they’re searching for the same thing—meaning, and forgiveness.
Told primarily through the point of view of the tiger, who begins the play alive but then is shot and spends the rest of the play as a ghost, this is a wholly unique play told through vignettes.
Run time
2hr 30min. Incl. 1 Interval.
Categories
Age
Ages 14+.
Start date
4th December, 2025
End date
31st January, 2026
Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo cast and creative team
By: Rajiv Joseph
Director: Omar Elerian
Cast list: Kathryn Hunter, Ammar Haj Ahmad, Arinzé Kene and Hala Omran
Sets & Costumes: Rajha Shakiry
Venue
Directions
Location: Fringe/Off West End
Railway station: Waterloo
Bus numbers: Pocock Street (Stop V) 40, 63
Car park: National Car Park Ltd
More information about Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo in London has an exceptional creative team at its helm, including direction by Omar Elerian, set and costume design by Rajha Shakiry and Jackie Shemesh, sound design by Elena Peña, and hair and makeup supervision by Sarah-Jane Pucci.
The play is by Rajiv Joseph, a decorated playwright. Among his many awards and nominations was the 2018 Obie Award he earned for Best New American Play for his play Describe the Night.
When discussing Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, he explained, "I gave the tiger a voice that felt familiar to me, writing from the perspective of a primal being, an animal with no politics, trapped in a place where it didn't belong."
Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo is a play that premiered in California in the spring of 2009, and it opened on Broadway to rave reviews in the spring of 2011. Now it comes to the London stage for the first time ever.
What to watch for
- Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo was nominated for six Drama Desk Awards in 2011, and it earned two—one for outstanding lighting design in a play, and the other for outstanding sound design of a play.
- Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo was nominated for three Tony Awards in 2011.
- Rajiv Joseph first began working on this play while in graduate school. It began as a short sketch before developing into what it is today.
- While the story is fictional, it is based on the true story of the United States bombing a part of a zoo in Baghdad which allowed animals to get out.
Frequently asked questions
What is Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo about?
Don’t miss the Pulitzer-nominated play, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, on the London stage for the first time ever. Told primarily through the point of view of a tiger, alive at first and later a ghost, this impactful tale explores the dehumanizing effects of war, as well as the search for meaning and forgiveness.
How do you get tickets for Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo?
Check the top of this page for current availability on Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo tickets on TodayTix.
What is the running time of Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo?
Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo runs for 2hr 30min. Incl. 1 Interval.
Which theatre is Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo at?
Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo is at London's Young Vic (Main House), which is located at 66 The Cut, London, SE1 8LZ.
What is the age recommendation for Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo?
Ages 14+.
Who wrote Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo?
Rajiv Joseph wrote the play.
Who directed Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo?
Omar Elerian stages the show.
Is Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo appropriate for kids?
This impactful production is best for children ages 14 and above. It includes strong language, as well as guns and gunshots, sexual content which includes discussion of sexual assault and depictions of sex work, suicide, self-harm, murder, violence, and war.
Is Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo good?
Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo has been a beloved play since its 2009 premiere. It’s earned numerous awards and nominations, including a Pulitzer Prize nomination.
