Guards at the Taj at Orange Tree Theatre invites us into the mystery and majesty of one of history’s great wonders, but it doesn’t take us there in the way you might expect. Set in 1648 Agra, Rajiv Joseph’s play delves not into the magnificence of the Taj Mahal itself but into the men tasked with safeguarding it – and the chilling cost of that duty. With direction from Adam Karim, the production navigates both reverence and irreverence with a steady hand, allowing humour and horror to coexist.
At the heart of the play, we meet Babur and Humayun, Imperial Guards and best friends who, on the eve of the Taj’s completion, are forbidden from even glancing at its beauty. Usaamah Ibraheem Hussain as Babur and Maanuv Thiara as Humayun bring a magnetic chemistry to the stage, crafting a friendship that feels tender, humorous, and fragile in the face of looming tragedy. Hussain’s Babur is lively and curious, while Thiara’s Humayun offers a more grounded counterpoint, both performers weaving a dynamic so compelling it seems as delicate as the marble they’re forbidden to admire.
In a world so captivated by beauty, it’s rare to find a play that dares to show the blood spilled in its pursuit.
Adam Karim’s direction, combined with the hauntingly precise sound design, immerses the audience in an atmosphere thick with awe and dread. The production treads carefully as it explores the darker themes, maintaining a sense of intimacy that’s ideal for the Orange Tree Theatre’s close quarters. It’s a study in contrasts: beauty and violence, love and duty, curiosity and obedience – all of which could easily unravel, much like the threads of Babur and Humayun’s own lives.
As the story unfolds, Guards at the Taj doesn’t shy away from the brutality demanded in service of beauty, questioning the cost of art and legacy. The violence is visceral, delivered with an impact that feels both shocking and necessary, grounding the philosophical musings of the play in bloody reality. For those familiar with Joseph’s work, this play continues his trend of interrogating human nature, though this time, against the paradoxical backdrop of history’s most enduring testament to love.
Final Thoughts ★★★★
Would I recommend Guards at the Taj? Yes. This is a visceral, haunting piece that explores the price of beauty with an intensity that lingers. With Babur and Humayun, we’re drawn into a friendship bound by duty yet nearly shattered by it. Hussain and Thiara bring to life an unforgettable connection, teetering on the edge of loyalty and betrayal.
Guards at the Taj holds up a mirror to human ambition, reminding us that creation and destruction often walk hand in hand. This is a production that leaves you haunted – not by what you’ve seen, but by what it reveals about the sacrifices we make, sometimes blindly, for the things we cherish most.
Playing at the Orange Tree Theatre until 16 November 2024.
Disclaimer: Ticket was purchased without any association or endorsement from the theatre.
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