There is some great theatre around this month and it would be a shame to miss…
By Suman Bhuchar
Sophia – Awakening from privilege to resistance
THIS is a new play written by Hannah Kumari and delves into the life of a well-known Victorian Indian woman.
Sophia was the daughter of Duleep Singh, the last Maharajah of the Punjab and Bamba Muller.
She was brought up in Elveden, Suffolk, and the play follows Sophia Duleep Singh’s story from the age of 23 to 52.
Sophia went on a life changing journey to her family’s homeland in India, where she met activists in the freedom movement and she returned to England invigorated and with a sense of purpose. She joined the fight for women’s suffrage in UK and Indian Independence.
‘Sophia’ is directed by Mandy Glover and features a cast of four actors, Natasha Patel, Moshana Khan, Harriet Sharmini Smithers and Sushant Shekhar.
The show, produced by Eastern Angles Theatre Productions, is touring regionally and includes a performance in Elveden itself – which should be poignant.
Sophia by Hannah Kumari, started today (April 9) and goes on tour until May 3 – check below to see dates, locations and times
https://easternangles.co.uk/event/sophia/
Age guidance 14+ running time 1 hours 20 mins no interval
Shanghai Dolls – Two Women at the centre of China’s culture clash
rehearsals for ‘Shanghai Dolls‘ pic: Marc Brenner
BRITISH Hong Kong playwright, Amy Ng presents her new play, ‘Shanghai Dolls’ which is the story of two of the most influential women in Chinese history, Madame Mao and Sun Weishi.
Both worked as actresses and meet in Shanghai at auditions for Ibsen’s ‘A Doll’s House’. They become inseparable but also rivals. And as political upheaval rips through China, their tumultuous friendship, “alters not only the course of their lives, but the course of history. One will become China’s first female director. The other, the architect of the Cultural Revolution.”
Directed by Katie Posner and co-produced by Paines Plough – the company celebrated its 50th birthday recently – the show features Gabby Wong as Mao and Millicent Wong as Weishi.
Shanghai Dolls by Amy Ng from today (April 9)- May 10 at The Kiln Theatre, 269 Kilburn High Road, London NW6 7JR
https://kilntheatre.com/whats-on/shanghai-dolls/
1 hour 20 mins (no interval)
Speed – Why are we always angry? Are we?
rehearsals for ‘Speed‘ ©Rich Lakos/ArenaPAL
STARRING Nikesh Patel, Sabrina Sandhu, Arian Nik and Shazia Nicholls, this is a deep dive into modern Britain.
A nurse, a delivery driver, and an entrepreneur walk into a speed awareness course. That’s the premise of writer Mohamed Zain-Dada new play, ‘Speed’.
Abz (Patel) who is a leading expert on road safety tells his class: change your ways or lose your licence. But the training course quickly veers into a tumultuous group therapy session as they are forced to confront the real question: why are you all so angry? Directed by Milli Bhatia, this is a comic and thrilling world premiere about the daily annoyances that make us angry!
Speed by Mohamed Zain-Dada from (April 9) to May 17, The Bush Theatre, 7 Uxbridge Road, London W12 8LJ
https://www.bushtheatre.co.uk/event/speed/
90 minutes
A Practical Guide on How to Save the World When No One F**king Else Is – Whose planet is it?
pic: Mathusaa Sagthidas (©MathuxPhotos)
A NEW PLAY made by young people and not just aimed at them, this takes you on a journey.
Devised by the Tara Young Company (part of Tara Theatre) and written by Nicole Latchana and directed by Gavin Joseph (associate director at Tara), this is a story with fight or flight at the heart of it.
A group of young climate activists meet regularly at a community centre to plan on how to save the world but when their leader suddenly vanishes, they have to decide how to move forward either by choosing peaceful protest or eco-terrorism.
Tensions and rivalries rise to the surface and the question is whether they will try and fight the system or each other.
A Practical Guide on How to Save the World When No One F**king Else IS by Nicole Latchana, from April 15-19 (with interpreted performance at 3pm on April 19), Tara Theatre, 356 Garratt Lane, Earlsfield, London
SW18 4ES
https://taratheatre.com/whats-on/a-practical-guide-on-how-to-save-the-world-when-no-one-fing-else-is/
Much Ado About Nothing – Celebrity and football shenanigans
Pic: ©MarcBrenner
SHAKESPEARE’S comedy romance gets a modern-day popular culture makeover and is mounted by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and this is directed by Michael Longhurst.
It features Freema Agyeman (who was in ‘Twelfth Night’) as Beatrice and Nick Blood as Benedick, the older lovers constantly trying to outwit each other with a “merry war” of words.
This version is set in the world of football and celebrity culture.
Actor, Azan Ahmed (of ‘10 Nights’ and ‘Statues’) makes his RSC debut playing Conrade, a close friend of Don Jon (played by British Iranian actor, Nojan Khazai, who was last seen in the RSC production, ‘English’) who is the villain in the play. To say more would ruin the fun of this romcom.
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare from April 12-May 24
12 April to 24 May, Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre, Waterside, Stratford Upon Avon CV 37 6BB.
https://www.rsc.org.uk/much-ado-about-nothing/
Romeo and Juliet – R&B style and teen friendly
©NicolaYoungPhotography
OVER in London, The Hackney Empire is staging a rap and R&B version of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ co-produced by Belgrade Theatre and Bristol Old Vic.
Kyle Ndukuba, a graduate from London Academy of Music and Dramatic art, makes his professional debut as Romeo.
Mia Khan is a graduate from Central School of Speech and Drama and plays Juliet, in this story of star-crossed lovers and feuding families of the Montagues and Capulets. The show features a culturally diverse cast and is directed by Corey Campbell, creative director at Belgrade. The music is a collaboration with a company called That’s a Rap.
Romeo and Juliet from April 23-26 by William Shakespeare, The Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, London E8 1EJ
https://www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/romeo-juliet
Times vary. Age guidance 11+ and running time is three hours
Duck – Young man’s dreams realised or ruined…?
IN THIS solo play, 15-year-old Ismail dreams of becoming the best cricketer in his elite school’s history. Set against the backdrop of the 2005 Ashes series and the 7/7 London bombings, the play explores the challenges Ismail faces as he struggles with poor form on the pitch and his identity as a Brown Muslim teen.
Writer Maatin presents a powerful exploration of adolescence, cultural identity and friendship in this play directed by Imy Wyatt Corner.
We reviewed previously.
Duck, by Maatin, Wednesday, April 30, 7.30pm Corn Exchange, Newbury, Market Place, Newbury RG14
https://cornexchangenew.com/events/duck
V&A Performance Festival – free to explore Dance…
EVERY year the V&A Museum puts on a festival that celebrates Performance and this year the focus is on dance and illusion.
There are performances, talks and workshops. Most of the events are free and take place at the venue in South Kensington.
You can see Vidya Patel in Maya on April 27; you can see film screening of live recorded performances such as ‘Barnum’ (2018 production) on Friday, May 2: ‘The Wiz’ (2021 production) on April 30. There is a lot on offer.
The V&A Performance Festival 2025 – from April 25-May 4, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL
For more info & ticket info click here
Narratives of Time – Bangla drama project, get involved!
IF YOU are a theatre boffin and are interested in performance history, becoming an archivist, or delving into research then this project could be of interest.
Tower Hamlets Council has received lottery funding of £75,361 for a project, Narratives of Time.
This aims to document Bangla drama in East London from 1963-2013. It will explore oral history of the community and the creatives who created work in this period, look at archive research and will culminate in exhibitions, digital resources, and a final celebration at the Brady Arts Centre as part of A Season of Bangla Drama 2026.
The Narratives of Time project are now seeking Volunteer Community Participants.
For more information and see application form. Deadline: 15 April 2025, 12noon. See here
