by Satinder Chohan
The game of Kabaddi crosses borders and generations in this compelling story of the struggle to win. In 1936, three players wrestle for love and gold in the red sands of occupied India; in London 2012 their descendants do battle to survive. But can they ever escape the raids of the past? A gripping new drama about sport, nationhood and belonging with a haunting love story at its heart.
2012 World Premiere (Arcola Theatre & National Tour) in co-production with Kali Theatre and in association with the Mercury Theatre, Colchester. Arts Council Funded. Nominated for The National Lottery Awards.
Cast – Pushpinder Chani, Asif Khan, Shalini Peiris
Director/Dramaturg – Helena Bell
Design – Sophia Lovell Smith
Light – Mark Dymock
Composer & Sound Design – Arun Ghosh
Choreography – Jasmine Simhalan
Cast in Video – Chetna Pandya, Sagar Radia, Richard Sumitro
Film Maker – Grant Watson
Production Manager – Richard Walker
Company Stage Manager
2012 Autumn Tour
Mercury Theatre, Colchester
The Cut, Halesworth
Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton
The Public, West Bromwich
Mac, Birmingham
Mumford Theatre, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge
Arcola Theatre, London
Reviews
4 STARS **** What’s on Stage & The Public Reviews
“Helena Bell’s production, evocatively lit by Mark Dymock, with a haunting soundtrack by Arun Ghosh, magnificently manages the blend of sport and war, raiders and defenders fighting it out over a chapati-flour frontier in the Akhara, as the ghosts swirl up in dreams of red dust…The three actors give impressive, compelling performances in this small, warm space. Pushpinder Chani is a charismatic Shera, Asif Khan a vulnerable, stobborn Eshwar. And Shalini Peiris doubles superby as the two Azadehs, both strong in their way, both able to see beyond the here and now.” The Public Reviews 4 ****
“An evocative, compelling piece of theatre especially with Mark Dymock’s play with dust and red lighting. Arun Ghosh’s soundtrack is haunting and the actors give impressive performances” The Birmingham Post
“Chohan captures cleverly the ironies and complexities of British Asian identity with wit and depth… I urge viewers to support this important and groundbreaking work to ensure that such beautifully told stories reach a wider public domain and excite the British consciousness” PULSE Magazine
“I found this a bold and compelling piece of work… one of the best small-scale touring pieces of writing I have seen this year…. the performances were mature and layered….I thought the work of a very high standard. If we were in the game of giving stars, this would be a 4. As an example of Asian derived work that spoke to a modern mixed audience I think it was a huge success. The range of diversity programming is to be commended. I think it to be encouraged in these austere times that such 3 way partnerships can emerge to bring Colchester Mercury/Kali and PBAB together. “ Jack Bradley (formerly Literary Manager of the National Theatre) Arts Council, England’s Artistic Assessor
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