A talk and reading for The Junction, Dubai
I was part of Dubai's theatre community for the two and half years I lived in the United Arab Emirates and made many friends there. It was great to reconnect…
Interview on Cambridge 105
A pre-recorded conversation about Where are the grown-ups? with presenter Leigh Chambers, broadcast on 22 May 2020. Here's the link to the book. https://amzn.to/2tNvGBj
In conversation with Jason Solomons, Radio London
Jason Solomons talks to Ruth Badley on Radio London Film critic Jason Solomons was sitting in for Robert Elms on Wednesday 15 January. In between our chat about my family…
Radio London Jo Good Show
10 January Ruth Badley on the Jo Good Show, Radio London Earlier this week I spoke to Jo Good at BBC Radio London about writing an autobiography. I was thrilled…
Boogaloo Down Broadway
As I’m writing this, I hear that Bruce added ‘The Ghost of Tom Joad’ to his Broadway show, in protest at the inhumane treatment at US Borders. This was the first set change for 146 shows and was warmly received by the audience.
I look at my Twitter feed and learn that MSNBC newsreader Rachel Maddow broke down on air whilst describing the forcible separation of babies and young children from their migrant parents at the US-Mexico border and the use of ‘tender age shelters’ by officials of the Trump administration.
Making light of my own immigration ‘inconvenience’ in no way diminishes how I feel about this disgraceful treatment of families and children – or the subsequent inadequate statements by the Trump administration in the face of international condemnation.
‘And what is your reason for visiting the United States?’
Welcome to immigration at Newark Liberty Airport. Obvious irony alert in the name but let that pass. After two merciless hours in a queue, the question comes as a blessed relief. It’s the one I’ve been waiting for.
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London Calling
Some business and a lot of pleasure took us back to ‘the smoke’ for a few days but it turns out we were missed at the Mount, as on our return our neighbours declared it was good to see us back! After just a few days in London, where we were insignificant specks in the crowd, being noticed felt good. (more…)
Georgia On My Mind
I doubt Georgia would have been on my holiday radar from the UK, but that was then and this is now. The world map looks different from Dubai and the cheap flight schedules put Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital, within easy reach. Georgia lies to the south of Russia, where Eastern Europe meets Asia and the flying time is only three hours from Dubai. (more…)
Three Cities In Iran 3: Tehran
Our final stop is Tehran, Iran’s capital city, a sprawling metropolis of eight million people where we hope to glimpse a little of the modern Iranian lifestyle. Our friends Saeid, Rita and their dear little boy Sherwin are our guides. Aged four, Sherwin is a fan of the children’s characters Topsy and Tim and is delighted to meet a real-life Tim. That makes me Topsy. Even though we don’t seem to behave much like the story book people, he seems happy enough to share his Mum and Dad with us for a couple of days.
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Three Cities In Iran 2: Isfahan
The 300-mile journey north to Isfahan takes at least five hours by road so we make an early appearance at Shiraz bus station, with a helpful taxi driver in tow to make sure we head off in the right direction. Isfahan is the ancient former capital of Persia, renowned for its historic sites, art and architecture. (more…)