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As we move into the delightful autumn rays of October and Black History Month “reclaiming narratives”, London Film Festival, Halloween, and Diwali, there is a lot going on in the theatre scene…
By Suman Bhuchar
Tanika Gupta and Meera Syal tackle the big stuff
‘A TUPPERWARE OF ASHES’ is a new play by Tanika Gupta and directed by Pooja Ghai and the drama has its world premiere at the National Theatre.
Starring Meera Syal as Queenie, an Asian matriarch and successful chef, who is slowly succumbing to gaps in her memory. This prompts her children to figure out how to reconcile their duty and responsibility towards their mother.
It’s been while since Syal was on stage and along with other Asian talent, such as Zubin Varla, Shobna Gulati, Raj Bajaj and Avita Jay, this promises to be a play that is required viewing. The production deals with themes of death and grief, so do check the suitability criteria before booking.
‘A Tupperware of Ashes’ by Tanika Gupta and directed by Pooja Ghai runs from (September 25) to November 16 at The National Theatre, Upper Ground, South Bank, London SE1 9PX.
https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/productions/a-tupperware-of-ashes/
Two Asian sisters battle for survival
THE DYNAMIC duo and artistic partnership between writer Sonali Bhattacharyya and director, Milli Bhatia sees them reunite for this play, ‘King Troll (The Fawn)’ which was a finalist for the 2023 Women’s Prize for Playwriting.
‘King Troll (The Fawn)’ is a dark and otherworldly thriller about two South Asian sisters, desperate to escape the border regime without losing their humanity. A dystopian exploration of migrant experiences in all their complexity.
Produced and commissioned by Kali Theatre, this world premiere production stars Diyar Bozkurt Ayesha Dharker, Zainab Hasan, Dominic Holmes and Safiyya Ingar.
King Troll by Sonali Bhattacharayya is on from October 2 to November 4 at the New Diorama Theatre, 15-16 Triton Street, (Regents Place) NW1 3BF (Warren Street & Great Portland Street tube stations nearby). https://newdiorama.com/whats-on/king-troll-the-fawn
India’s first international Drag King troupe in London
OVER from Mumbai following a triumphant debut in its latest guise is ‘The Gentlemen’s Club’.
Starting this week, this is the first ever international premiere of India’s first ever organised professional show featuring Drag Kings.
Set in a nightclub, the audience are introduced to a motley crew of characters who strut their stuff and don’t hold back. Embodying one of the icons of Indian cinema Shammi Kapoor – is host and drag king extraordinaire King Rocky – aka Shamesher, Puja Sarup.
They are the founding member of Patchworks Ensemble – the company that created the show alongside Soho Theatre and India’s National Centre for Performing Arts, Mumbai.
So prepared to be entertained, enlightened and possibly even a little tickled by ‘The Gentlemen’s Club’ this autumn.
The Gentlemen’s Club is devised and created by Puja Sarup, Sheena Khalid, Vikram Phukam, Rachel D’Souza and Ratnabali Bhattacharjee from (October 1) to October 12 at Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, London W1D 3NE https://sohotheatre.com/events/the-gentlemens-club/
Father of vaccines comes under the spotlight
‘PINS AND NEEDLES’ is the inaugural production of Artistic Director Amit Sharma’s season at the Kiln Theatre.
This world premiere directed by Sharma and written by Rob Drummond looks at science and scepticism through the exploration of vaccines.
In this 80-minute show, Rob is played by Gavi Singh Chera, who speaks to Mary (Vivienne Acheampong), a mother trying to make the best decisions for her family; then there is Robert, (Brian Vernel) an angry son who distrusts institutions, and Edward Jenner (Richard Cant), the father of modern vaccinations. The more he listens, the more he struggles to keep his own subjectivity off the table, which begs the question how do you know who to trust?
Pins and Needles by Rob Drummond from (October 1) till October 26
https://kilntheatre.com/whats-on/pins-and-needles/
Join Karim on his adventures as a teenager in 1970s London
‘The Buddha of Suburbia’ based on the novel by Hanif Kureishi who worked with director Emma Rice to adapt it for stage, this naughty and engaging production by the Royal Shakespeare Company, has got a transfer to London.
Ankur Bal and Dee Ahluwalia reprise their role as father and son in this sort of autobiographical novel by Hanif Kureishi set in South London of the 1970s, where bellbottoms, David Bowie and Indian gurus are all the rage. Catch it at the Barbican from 22 October to 16 November.
Our review: https://asianculturevulture.com/portfolios/the-buddha-of-suburbia-hugely-enjoyable-and-engaging/
The Buddha of Suburbia by Hanif Kureishi and adapted by Emma Rice for the stage, is on from October 22-November 16 The Barbican Theatre. Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS
See here
Code switching, loss and recovery
BUSH THEATRE presents the world premiere of Azan Ahmed’s play, ‘Statues’, a lyrical love letter looking at life, loss and what you can gain from it.
Days after his father’s passing, English teacher Yusuf discovers a dusty mixtape that changes his perceptions about his old man. In the 1990s, his Dad was a young rapper living a Kilburn life – but what happened to it?
Performed by Jonny Khan and Azan Ahmed.
‘Statues’ by Azan Ahmed, from October 9-November 9 at Bush Theatre, 7 Uxbridge Road, London W12 8LJ https://www.bushtheatre.co.uk/event/statues/
Taj Mahal mystery
ACTOR and director Adam Karim has won the JMK Award – to stage his own professional production of ‘Guards at the Taj’ by Rajiv Joseph.
The two-hander play is set in Agra, India, 1648 and is about friendship, betrayal and power. The sun rises on the final day of construction of the Taj Mahal, the most beautiful monument the world has ever seen. Imperial Guards and best friends Babur and Humayun must follow the Emperor’s orders, and resist the temptation to steal a glimpse.
Guards at the Taj by Rajiv Joseph is on from October 26-November 16 at the Orange Tree Theatre, 1 Clarence St, Richmond TW9 2SA. https://orangetreetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/guards-at-the-taj/
Two best friends, Partition and growing up
GOING on tour now is ‘Santi & Naz’ which won the Charlie Hartill Fund in 2023, and was presented to much acclaim at Edinburgh Fringe that year.
Exploring female friendship, coming of age and the political changes brought about Partition, it starts next week in Bristol before ending in Birmingham, near the end of the month.
Developed by Guleraana Mir and Madeline More and written by Mir and Afshan d’souza-lodhi, of The Thelmas, this is their third production following ‘Ladykiller’, ‘Son of a B*tch’ and ‘Coconut’.
See tour details for ‘Santi & Naz’ here – Starts October 8 – https://www.thethelmas.co.uk/santi-naz
Vaccine drama set in Colonial India and those mother-son talks
THEATRE OF DEBATE presents the world premiere of its new production, ‘A Picture of Health’ by Sudha Bhuchar, a play about vaccination, variolation, colonisation, decolonisation, vaccine hesitancy and the compelling role of the women in the Royal family in early 19th century, Southern India.
‘A Picture of Health’ is inspired by Irish painter Thomas Hickey’s portrait, ‘The Three Queens of Mysore’ and tells the story behind the picture – a tale of politics, power, and persuasion by the East India Company to introduce the world’s first ever vaccine, discovered by Edward Jenner, to India, their biggest colonial enterprise.
The play will tour schools and will have one public performance at Tara Theatre, South London. (See listings below). In true Theatre of Debate tradition, every performance is followed by a facilitated debate.
A Picture of Health by Sudha Bhuchar, is on October 24, at 7pm Tara Theatre, 356 Garratt Lane, London SW18 4ES – see https://taratheatre.com/
Bhuchar’s solo delivered ‘Evening Conversations’ about the writer-actor and theatremaker – and her relationship to her Millennial mixed heritage sons growing up in South London – also returns for a single night as part of Wimbledon Bookfest (October 17-27). See Listings below. BBC presenter Mishal Husain and bestselling author Robert Harris are part of the line-up for the fest.
Evening Conversations Sudha Bhuchar is on at 7pm Merton Arts Space, Wimbledon Library, Compton Road, London SW19 7QA https://www.wimbledonbookfest.org/events/sudha-bhuchar/
The Scottish girl who made them laugh
WRITER and performer Lubna Kerr has been presenting her life story through her solo performances at Edinburgh Fringe and now continues to develop her personal show, ‘Chatterbox’. This is a comedy drama that explores the labels you are given at school and the impact they have on the rest of your life. In Kerr’s case, the teachers thought she was stupid because she was Pakistani girl who couldn’t speak English when she started primary school. She went on to prove them wrong!
Chatterbox by Lubna Kerr, Pleasance Theatre, Carpenters Mews, North Road, London N7 9EF
https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/chatterbox
Machine guns and Nutella…
WRITTEN by Josh Azouz and directed by Kathryn Hunter, the formal world premiere of this show will take place at Arcola Theatre in North London on Monday (October 7). It features Roman Asde, Chipo Chung, Lola Shalam and Tanvi Virmani.
‘Gigi & Dar’ is a comic tragedy about what we bury to survive. A roadblock. Two young women armed with machine guns and Nutella. Described by Hunter herself, as a play where “Beckett meets ‘Mean Girls’ where the clowns are armed to the teeth”. You have been warned or tickled…
Gigi & Dar by Josh Azouz, is on from October 3-November 2 at The Arcola Theatre, 24 Ashwin Street, London E8 3DL
https://www.arcolatheatre.com/whats-on/gigi-dar/
The Arab Spring – where did it all go wrong?
ACTOR and Activist, Khalid Abdalla will be performing His solo play, ‘Nowhere’ presented by Fuel, a theatre company renowned for its innovative and collaborative approach to theatremaking.
This is an intricate and playful solo show, inspired by Abdalla’s involvement in the Egyptian revolution of 2011, and his experiences of the counter-revolution that followed. He will take audiences on a surprising journey into his own history, set against a cartography of seismic world events. This is the actor (‘Mnemomic’ at The National and screen work, ‘The Crown’) first play and is directed by Omar Elerian.
Nowhere by Khalid Abdalla is on from (October 1)-19 at Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, London SW11 5TN and https://bac.org.uk/whats-on/nowhere/#book then Home (October 22-26), 2 Tony Wilson Place, Manchester M15 4FN https://homemcr.org/production/nowhere/
Those Asian wedding DJs aren’t letting you go…just yet
RIFCO continue to tour its ‘Pali and Jay’s Ultimate Asian Wedding Show DJ Roadshow’ with it on at different dates this month at Octagon Theatre, Bolton and Swan Theatre at High Wycombe, before returning to Soho Theatre at the end of the month. Check listings –
https://www.rifcotheatre.com/live-shows/wedding-djs
