Guards at the Taj

WRITTEN BY RAJIV JOSEPH 

A NATIONAL THEATRE OF PARRAMATTA PRODUCTION 

What happens to a life-long friendship when two ordinary men are ordered to do the unthinkable? 

At the grand opening of the Taj Mahal, the most beautiful building in the world, the Emperor decrees that nothing more beautiful shall ever be built again. To ensure this, he orders two imperial guards to perform a horrendous task. 

The guards are best friends. Humayun is a loyal civil servant with complete trust in the authorities, while Babur is a dreamer, and deeply distressed by the order that has been bestowed upon them. He plans a revenge that will put these two best friends at odds. 

Featuring a heartbreakingly funny friendship put to the ultimate test and existential banter reminiscent of Beckett and Stoppard, Guards at the Taj mixes witty black comedy with the bloodiest deeds of Greek tragedy. 
 

"...touching, funny and potent.... a captivating exploration of how far friendship can be pushed and the tension between duty and humanity." City Hub 

★★★★½ John Shand, The Sydney Morning Herald 

★★★★ Artshub 
 

Credits 

Image Credit: Noni Carroll
Rajiv Joseph: Playwright
Bali Padda: Director / Tour Producer
Joanne Kee: Executive Producer – National Theatre of Parramatta
Daniel Cottier / Emma White: Associate Producer – National Theatre of Parramatta 
National Theatre of Parramatta: Producer
Akkshey Caplash: Performer - Babur
Idam Sondhi: Performer - Humayun
James Browne: Production Designer
Kate Baldwin: Lighting Designer
Me-Lee Hay: Sound Designer
Paperjam Partners: Production Management

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body. 

This project is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.