CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR WORLD PREMIERE OF PINK SARI REVOLUTION
Pink Sari Revolution
Book by: Amana Fontanella-Khan
Stage adaptation by: Purva Naresh
Director: Suba Das; Designer: Isla Shaw
Movement Director: Aakash Odedra; Lighting Designer: Tim Lutkin
Musical Director: Naren Chandavarkar
Co-produced by: Curve, Leicester; Belgrade Theatre Coventry and West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds
In association with: English Touring Theatre
27 September – 7 October
Press night: 5 October, 7pm
Curve, Belgrade Theatre Coventry and West Yorkshire Playhouse, in association with English Touring Theatre have revealed the cast and production team for the world premiere of Pink Sari Revolution, a stage adaptation of Amana Fontanella-Khan’s critically acclaimed book of the same title.
Pink Sari Revolution, which tours the UK from September, tells the real-life story of Sampat Pal, leader of the notorious, working class feminist movement ‘The Gulabi Gang’. Based in India’s rural Uttar Pradesh province, the gang now numbers over 400,000 members in a part of the world where violence towards women is rife.
Taking the lead role of Sampat Pal is Syreeta Kumar, an actor known for her frequent work with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), as well as roles in television such as Apple Tree Yard and films including Notes on a Scandal.
The company will be completed by Goldy Notay (It’s a Wonderful Afterlife, Bend it Films and Handful of Henna, Sheffield Crucible), Munir Khairdin (Whitechapel, Carnival Films and As You Like it, Curve), Ronak Patani (Macbeth, National Theatre and Primetime, Royal Court), Sharan Phull (Romeo and Juliet, National Theatre and The Importance of Being Earnest, Curve) and Ulrika Krishnamurti (Made in India, UK National tour and Rockford, Sic Productions).
Four of the cast members, Goldy Notay, Munir Khairdin, Sharan Phull and Syreeta Kumar, are all returning to Leicester having made major theatre appearances in the city early on in their careers.
The production has been adapted for the stage by Indian playwright Purva Naresh, winner of the United Nations Laadli Media Award for her work on gender. Olivier award winner Tim Lutkin will provide the lighting design for the show, while longstanding Curve collaborator Designer Isla Shaw (The Importance of Being Earnest, Wipers, The Witches) will create the set and costumes.
Incorporating elements of traditional Indian music and dance, composition and Sound Design is by Indian Artist Naren Chandavarkar and Curve Associate Artist Aakash Odedra will provide movement direction.
Pink Sari Revolution will be directed by Curve Associate Director Suba Das, whose previous work includes the critically acclaimed Wipers and the world premiere of Indian Musician and Composer Ravi Shankar’s only opera Sukanya.
In a joint statement, Curve’s Chief Executive Chris Stafford and Artistic Director Nikolai Foster said:
“Our commitment to commissioning and creating new work at Curve is stronger than ever. As well as entertaining, theatre holds a mirror to society and challenges the injustices of our times. The powerful true story of the Pink Sari Revolution does both of these things brilliantly.
“We are proud to welcome such an astonishing group of actors and production team to Leicester to realise this ambitious and epic story. After the world premiere here at Curve, we are thrilled this production will be shared with venues around the UK. We are indebted to our producing partners at Belgrade Theatre Coventry, West Yorkshire Playhouse and English Touring Theatre and our project funders Arts Council England and British Council for enabling us to tell this incredible story.”
One winter’s day, Sampat Pal learns of Sheelu Nishad, a young girl thrown into prison in the dead of night. As Sampat investigates claims of corruption, theft and assault, a chain of events is set into motion that reveals the real cost of taking a stand.
Supported by British Council UK/IN 2017 and Arts Council England’s Reimagine fund, Pink Sari Revolution will begin its UK tour at Curve 27 Sep – 7 Oct.
The production will then show at the following venues:
Belgrade Theatre, Coventry – 11 – 21 Oct
Northern Stage, Newcastle – 31 Oct – 04 Nov
West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds – 7 – 11 Nov