Pursued by A Bear in co-production with Kali Theatre, in association with Colchester Mercury Theatre

KALI TALKBACK FESTIVAL: Kabaddi Kabaddi Kabaddi

Satinder Chohan

Directed by: Helena Bell

KALI TALKBACK FESTIVAL

Kali celebrates 21 years of cutting edge theatre by South Asian women with a festival of rich and diverse contemporary plays by some of the most original voices in theatre writing. Come and help Kali celebrate their birthday!

Kabaddi Kabaddi Kabaddi

A gripping new drama about sport, nationhood and belonging with a haunting love story at its heart.

From the red dust of the Punjab to the Olympic stadiums of Europe this intense new drama explores the Indian sport of Kabaddi and its place on the world stage. Against a backdrop of Indian revolutionary fervour, two players compete for a place in the team for the 1936 Berlin Olympics and for the love of Azadeh, a freedom fighter and outcast with a troubled past. In London 2012, their descendants risk everything to play for gold. But can they ever break free from their past?

Structured like the two halves of a Kabaddi game, this production recreates the raw physicality of combat in a compelling story of the struggle to win.

A Pursued By A Bear production in a co-production with Kali Theatre, in association with Colchester Mercury Theatre.

Read Kali’s Artistic Director, Janet Steel talking about the current state of South Asian UK theatre in the Guardian here.

Link

http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2012/dec/07/south-asian-theatre-bollywood-drama?CMP=twt_fd

Satinder Chohan’s previous plays include Zameen for Kali Theatre (Soho upstairs and National Tour). She completed a year-long Writer’s Attachment at Hampstead Theatre in 2010 and is currently under commission to Tamasha Theatre with her play Lotus Beauty.

Pursued by a Bear Productions make theatre and digital film. Founded in 1998, they commission cutting-edge new writing delivered in striking, visually compelling productions. Previous writers commissioned by the company include Fraser Grace, Oladipo Agboluaje, Anna Reynolds, Craig Baxter and Rukhsana Ahmad.

‘…an evocative, compelling piece of theatre … with impressive performances.’ Birmingham Post

‘Impressive, compelling performances …Helena Bell’s production magnificently manages the blend of sport and war, as the ghosts swirl up in dreams of red dust…’ The Public Reviews ★★★★

‘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

Performance Times: 8pm

Tickets £16 (Concessions £12)