Kristine Landon-Smith

Sudha Bhuchar

India, 1975, and a callous government has declared a State of Emergency. In these uncertain times Dina Dalal - a spirited Parsi widow determined to avoid a second marriage - takes a student boarder and two Hindu tailors into her ramshackle flat. As the cruel policies of slum clearances and enforced birth control bring chaos to the city, the four strangers, whose lives have become inextricably linked, find themselves crossing divides of caste, class and religion to form the most unexpected of friendships. A Fine Balance captures a moment in India's history with a tender story of exceptional human spirit. Commissioned by Tamasha Theatre Company and produced in association with Hampstead Theatre, the play was first performed in January 2006.

A Fine Balance

Sita Brahmachari

The Arrival is a story of epic migration unfolding through an extraordinary weaving together of theatre, circus and music.

The Arrival

Louise Wallinger

Macho men or metrosexual guys? Mummy’s boys or blokes under their missus’ thumbs? Self-made entrepreneurs, pukka professionals and successful executives with their Mercedes Benz lives and designer-clad wives; husbands, sons, uncles, brothers and fathers – these successful, soulful and spirited Asian men have come a long way from their origins but they’ve all got roots! The Trouble with Asian Men is a vital, tender and hilarious insight into lives that surround us every day. From the award-winning theatre company that brought us East is East, a revealing verbatim comedy that has played to sell-out houses internationally.

The Trouble with Asian Men

A moment of kindness in a sea of unfamiliarity... A long, hard day at work... A lively party... A nostalgic lullaby... The story begins in Nigeria where the character of Dele plays a last game of football with his friends and says goodbye to his son Chidi, telling him he will send for him. He then embarks on a voyage where he meets strangers along the way carrying their own stories of upheaval, struggle and hope - sharing his dream to make their home in a new city and be joined by their families. Dele's journey melds with the present day. In an inner-city hostel, Dele is an old man being looked after by Tian Mey, his carer. He reflects the past and his journey to where he is now and his story intertwines with the other migrants, both in his memories of the journey and the present-day reality of the hostel. Based on the illustrated novel by Oscar winner Shaun Tan, one man's tale echoes the many 'arrivals' happening around us all the time. This epic migration story unfolds through an extraordinary weaving together of theatre, circus and music. The Arrival tells the age-old story of immigration that is universal across peoples of diverse histories, countries and cultures.

Kristine Landon-Smith

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