EdFringe Review: Hajar, Like Badger

Stand-up comedy often benefits when the performer has built a life outside the comedy circuit. In Hajar, Like Badger, British-Iranian comedian and Channel 4 Secret Genius finalist Hajar J Woodland brings the polished patter of a working singer to a warm, autobiographical hour. Raised by a Muslim father who deemed performing “haram”—a one-word critique proudly slapped across her Fringe poster—Woodland defied expectations to gig everywhere from working men’s clubs to corporate events.

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Now, she weaves those experiences into a musical coming-of-age story that tracks her journey from a five-year-old in a hijab to a teenager chasing the unrealistic romantic ideals promised by Dawson’s Creek. Hajar didn’t want to wait for her life to be over… (no apologies).

Navigating this cultural whiplash, she deftly captures the absurdity of reconciling a strict traditional upbringing with a desperate longing for a quintessential nineties Western teen-drama experience. More time on stage as a stand-up will sharpen her feel for a devastating punchline, but she’s definitely got the right instincts.

What elevates the production above standard Fringe storytelling is Woodland’s undeniable vocal prowess—that’s even on her penultimate show and a schedule that knackers thousands of voices every year. Delivering original, conversational musical numbers that range from soulful jazz inflexions to full-throttle pop-rock anthems belted over a backing track, you can see why she doesn’t struggle to book gigs. The staging itself is inherently DIY, yet she manages inventive, glittering costume changes that physically chart her shifting relationship with faith, fashion, and womanhood.

The Human Beneath the Headlines

Rather than letting the cultural conversation around Muslim women remain a depersonalised political debate, Woodland grounds her tale in specific, lived realities.

The hour explores the complex dynamic with her father—brought vividly to life by having audience members (me when I stopped by) read his blunt, alternately loving and punishingly critical emails aloud—while also touching on the cultural norms of Iranian hospitality, right down to distributing traditional sweets to the front row as a gesture of authentic ta’arof. She even demonstrates the practicalities of styling a hijab without pins, seamlessly blending cultural education with generous, sparkling crowd work.

If there is a slight critique to be made, it is that the narrative remains anchored in her past. After exploring her youth and early marriage, the script leaves less room to delve into her present-day career successes and current life. Nevertheless, Hajar, Like Badger is a well-executed, heartfelt debut. Bursting with musicality and an immensely likeable stage presence, Woodland reclaims the voice she was once told to hide, delivering an hour that is as resonant as it is entertaining.

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