A Guardian theatre review assesses PalesTEENian, Joe Haddad's solo show at Riverside Studios in London, which blends stand-up comedy with a personal account of growing up with dual Palestinian-British identity. The reviewer finds the show engaging and often funny, praising Haddad's stage presence and some sharp lines, but concludes it lacks focus, awkwardly shifting between family comedy, football fandom and the serious subject of the Gaza war without fully developing any single strand.

Haddad, born in Croydon to Arab Christian parents from Jerusalem, recounts childhood prejudice at his Catholic school and his adult decision to perform under the anglicised name Joe Adams to avoid controversy. The 80-minute show touches on topics including Palestinian family life, cultural expectations around career choices, his love of Chelsea FC, and the events of 7 October 2023 and their aftermath in Gaza, but the reviewer says these weighty themes are addressed only briefly and impressionistically, leaving the production feeling like an unfocused précis rather than a fully realised exploration of its subject matter.