'Cutting Edge Theatre at its best.'

What’s On

Kali returns to Soho to present a week long showcase of readings and performances of rich and diverse new writing by Asian Women.

Seven writers bring to life an exciting and eclectic mix of stories and characters that will take you on journeys from Mumbai to Dudley, exploring sometimes taboo aspects of love, hate and partition.

King Saturn

by Nina Patel
directed By Poonam Brah 

19 November, 8pm

Mumbai, October 2003.  National elections are looming.  Bolaynath, a teenage boy, arrives in the city desperately looking for work.  He hopes to find an honest living but ends up begging on the streets. Sent by their English church group, Ruth and her husband John have also just arrived. Bolaynath’s life changes when he gets a job as their house boy but his fate becomes enmeshed in the corruption surrounding the approaching elections...

I Will Find You

by Samreen Masood
directed By Pia Futardo

20 November, 8pm

Cities are full of people so why do we feel lonely?  
Abo is on work experience in Mo’s TV rental shop. Old man Frank is at war with the Fried Chicken outlet downstairs. Dax needs a job, but doesn’t want one.  In the congested inner city, each wants the other’s space. History travels miles to remind Abo of what he does not know. In the process, only one character succeeds in the struggle to survive, as a brave dead chicken hangs in batter reminding all of the consequence of failure.

Another Paradise

by Sayan Kent
directed by Janet Steel

21 November, 8pm

Set in Leamington Spa at a time when Identity Cards are the norm and humans are qualified by their digital status as stored in the National Identity Database. The country is affluent, successful and knows everything about its citizens. It is a perfect state. But the system is buckling under its own weight; identity fraud is endemic but officially denied. Then there are those outside the law, people who aren’t officially recognised... 
A provocative play about love, confused identity and being sent to Coventry.

A Thin Red Line

by Sonali Bhattacharyya
directed by  Janet Steel

23 November, 8pm

Touring production in association with Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Black Country Touring

Does partition exist in Britain now?  Do others partitioned us or do we divide ourselves?   A young couple return to confront the fault lines of prejudice and cultural division that had driven them away from home. This thought-provoking commission from South Bank Award Nominee, Sonali Bhattacharyya was inspired and provoked by workshops with diverse community groups using the 60th anniversary of the partition of India as a starting point.  Reflecting a real slice of Black Country life, it explores today’s social and cultural partitions, both visible and hidden, in the way we see other people’s loyalties, religion and sense of home.

Blind Spot

by Bushra Laskar
directed By Janet Steel

24 November, 6pm

It’s Faizal’s day off and all he wants to do is relax. But the residents of Ilford have other ideas. Lucky and Reena are having a stakeout. Sol just wants to help but Parveen has just about had enough... 
This thought-provoking play explores how our attitudes towards different cultures and religions have changed recently; the mere mention of religion, especially Islam, seems to make people uneasy.  Paranoia is rife and formerly close-knit communities are being pulled asunder by rumours and panic.  Where does one draw the line between idle gossip and reasonable suspicion?

How The Rapist Was Born

by Sabina England
directed by Poonam Brah

24 November, 8pm

Rabyah, a fortysomething woman, waits in a psychiatric hospital for her daughter, Charley to visit her after school.  Charley has the attitude and mannerisms of her father who she idolises. But mother, father and daughter are linked by a shocking and traumatic event which is still disturbingly present. This challenging, provocative and extraordinary piece of punk theatre writing delivers a head on confrontation with rape and death to investigate extremes of human behaviour, the reaction of those scarred by years of brutality and the legacy this leaves for the next generation.

The Giving Voice Programme

Kali's new writer development programme put out an open call for new scripts earlier this year. Over 35 were received. 5 writers were selected to receive detailed 1-1 dramaturgical support and 6 were invited to join a fortnightly writing workshop, from May through July. From the revised texts 4 scripts were selected to be given Rehearsed Readings at Soho Theatre.

Kali Theatre

Kali encourages, develops and presents new theatre writing by Asian women. We seek out strong individual Asian women writers who challenge our perceptions through high quality, original and thought-provoking theatre.  We actively encourage our writers to reinvent and reshape the theatrical agenda.

Kali presents the distinct perspective and experience of Asian women to people from all backgrounds and celebrates its richness and diversity. Kali has established a reputation for creating theatre that takes audiences on unpredictable journeys that entertain, excite and inspire.

Further info from www.kalitheatre.co.uk

Supported by Arts Council England and Bloomberg