Four stars – whats on stage:
“The Husbands is nothing if not thought provoking.”
The Husbands
The Husbands: Commissioned by Kali and Pentabus Theatre for tour in Spring 2014 – a tale of polyandry and longing in modern India.
The Husbands http://www.kalitheatre.co.uk/whats-on/The_Husbands.html
Scratch reading Friday 17th May @Rich Mix
I’m excited to have a 15 min reading of an extract of When Spring Comes at the TDA Writers night on Music and Migration…
Here’s a little blurb about the piece and what inspired me…
East Africa has always been close to my heart: Swahili imbibed Gujerati, Indian food with African ingredients, homes decorated with African masks and fabrics. As a child I quickly developed a taste for the melancholic tales of the lush landscapes and carefree childhoods.
As an adult I realized, I had inherited a feeling of loss for something I had never had. Music became a connection. Certain songs precipitate a feeling of melancholy that I know is not my own but belongs collectively to another generation. It is an anchor for belonging; whether that is London, Kampala or Mumbai. Through music, we chart journeys beyond the physical. Through it – we find ourselves connected to something beyond ourselves.
The story of When Spring Comes is an exploration of family – but also how love, loss and yearning are passed on subliminally to the next generation.
Angelic Tales: White Turns To Grey
Exciting news – the wonderful people at Angelic Tales (Stratford East) accepted my piece When White Turns To Grey for their writer development program.
After submitting it, I got some great feedback and a table reading… Brilliantly facilitated by Rikki Beadle Blair and Jon Gordon.
Some serious editing, cutting and enhancing required for the next draft… Eeeeek!
WHEN THE SKY CLEARS accepted for publication
So I’ve been busy! As well as working on my novel – I’ve also started a new play, written a short film script and managed to get my show story When The Sky Clears accepted for publication in an anthology called: All the Small Things:
The collection had a theme close to my heart: the editors wanted to create a collection of short stories with the theme: childhood experiences of all the small things that people do to express their love for each other around the world.
On top of that – it had a great cause: All profits generated from the story collection in any vehicle will go direct to Ligusa Crossroad Childrens Home and Clinis, a community clinic and orphanage supporting vulnerable people in Kenya.
The books is still in production – but once its up I’ll post a link!
Art is….
27th December:
Art is the distillation of emotions that we humans can only feel for fleeting moments. It is a purity that we can aspire to but will never be able to attain – for it is the flux of emotions and the desire to purify them that make us human…
NRI : A new taste for an old recipe?
My brother put me onto this website which I think is pretty cool.
It’s written by and for NRIs – Non-Resident Indians and covers an array of cultural and lifestyle issues. I think this is a subject matter close to many of our hearts and with the diaspora contantly in flux its good to keep the finger in where the mix is going. How sweet is it, does it need more sugar or is it ready to go?
In this case, I imagine the case of the NRI will be a recipe that we won’t perfect for a while – there probably isn’t one receipe for all – but its a good idea to get a feel for the variety out there. One small niggly point – I just wish that there were more indepth pieces- sometimes it feels like a collection of article written very much like this one (!) opinion pieces.
Do too many opinions turn the milk sour? Or are we going for yoghurt anyway?
Since I don’t think this will be the last of my culinary meanderings – i think i’ll stop there….
Reading of my play FRANGIPANI HILL at Oval Theatre October 14th
14 October 7.45pm
Frangipani Hill By Sharmila Chauhan
Directed by Elizabeth Freestone
Escalating female infanticide has forced women to have multiple husbands. In this alternate matriarchal society, Aya has three but now wants another. Declaration of her new engagement triggers turmoil as each man struggles for his place. As Aya cajoles and then coerces them, she makes a discovery that could destroy the men she loves…
Stay tuned for more details!
http://www.kalitheatre.co.uk/whatson/gv_festival.htm
Sharmila Chauhan 