Nadira Alieva, Craig Murray’s Uzbek girlfriend, told the British tabloid press how difficult it had been arriving in the UK with the former ambassador back in December. The story took on some uncharming shades and revealed maybe too much of the couple’s private life.

After overcoming the initial financial hardships that made the couple eat toast for several months on end, Nadira was finally able to take up a course in acting. This has now culminated in her one-woman show in London’s Arcola Theatre, in a show written both by her and Craig. Maybe the tabloid revelations were part of a strategy to fill the ranks of the small East London stage - and those of a bigger West End location should the show move.

For the first time on stage Craig and Nadira tell their own story, as it happened to them. They will tell all: the politics, the dirty tricks, the shenanigans, the journey from ambassadorial palace to rented flat in Shepherds Bush and Craig’s obsession with Dennis the Menace ties. This will be their unadulterated story. Written by them, and performed by Nadira.

RFE/RL reports on the show as well and quotes Shahida Yakub, a London-based Uzbek journalist saying that…

…the content of the performance is very strong because it shows the Uzbek dictatorship and an ordinary family that lives under that dictatorship.

The reviews have been mixed so far:

Alieva’s performance has received mixed reviews. The website “Stage” said, “She has a warm and engaging stage presence.” But the “Daily Mail” was more critical. It described the performance as “no Cinderella-style fairytale” of a “rather amoral woman” with “ample curves.”