Tanika Gupta

Theatre has a complex history of responding to crises, long before they happen. Through stage plays, contemporary challenges can be presented, explored and even foreshadowed in ways that help audiences understand the world around them. Since the theatre of the Greeks, audiences have turned to live theatre in order to find answers in uncertain political, social and economic times, and through this unique collection questions about This anthology brings together a collection of 20 scenes from 20 playwrights that each respond to the world in crisis. Twenty of the world’s most prolific playwrights were asked to select one scene from across their published work that speaks to the current world situation in 2020. As COVID-19 continues to challenge every aspect of global life, contemporary theatre has long predicted a world on the edge. Through these 20 scenes from plays spanning from 1980 to 2020, we see how theatre and art has the capacity to respond, comment on and grapple with global challenges that in turn speak to the current time in which we are living. Each scene, chosen by the writer, is prefaced by an interview in which they discuss their process, their reason for selection and how their work reflects both the past and the present. From the political plays of Lucy Prebble and James Graham to the polemics of Philip Ridley and Tim Crouch. From bold works by Inua Ellams, Morgan Lloyd Malcom and Tanika Gupta to the social relevance of Hannah Khalil, Zoe Cooper and Simon Stephens this anthology looks at theatre in the present and asks the question: “how can theatre respond to a world in crisis?” The collection is prefaced by an introduction from Edward Bond, one of contemporary theatre’s most prolific dramatists.

Finally, I'm being brave. London, 1948. The war is over, India is newly independent, and Hedda Gabler has retired: early, elegantly, and with secrets. Once a Hollywood star, now the wife of rising British film director George Tesman, Hedda lives in Chelsea, hiding behind drawn curtains. But the past is beginning to stir. An old friend has written a screenplay that cuts too close to the truth. And there’s a powerful producer in town who never takes no for an answer. Inspired by the story of screen legend Merle Oberon, Hedda is a bold new version of Henrik Ibsen’s classic drama about blackmail, secrecy and power. Written by Tanika Gupta (Tupperware of Ashes) this edition was published to coincide with the Orange Tree Theatre production in October 2025, directed by BAFTA-winning director Hettie Macdonald (Normal People) and starring Pearl Chanda (I May Destroy You) in the title role.

I’m falling through a world which makes no senseAn ambitious Michelin-Star chef, Queenie is used to having the last word.But when her children notice gaps in her memory and her grip on reality loosening, they are faced with an impossible choice. As Raj, Gopal and Kamala battle to reconcile their life-long duty to their mother, the ramifications of their decision take on a heartbreaking permanence.A vivid and heart-breaking family drama, A Tupperware Of Ashes is about life, immigration and the Indian spiritual cycle of death and rebirth. This edition is published to coincide with the world premiere at the National Theatre, London in September 2024.

Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, 1887.At East London's Tilbury Docks, Rani Das and Abdul Karim step ashore after the long voyage from India. One has to battle a society who deems her a second-class citizen; the other forges an astonishing entanglement with the ageing Queen Victoria who finds herself enchanted by stories of an India over which she rules, but has never seen.Through narrative, music and song, The Empress blends the true story of Queen Victoria’s controversial relationship with her Indian servant and ‘Munshi’ (teacher), Abdul Karim, with the experiences of Indian ayahs who came to Britain during the 19th century. With private romance being mapped onto world history, the action cuts between the ship and different royal residences, offering bright contrasts as well as surprising affinities. In doing so, the play uncovers remarkable unknown stories of 19th-century Britain and charts the growth of Indian nationalism and the romantic proclivities of one of Britain's most surprising monarchs.This revised edition was published to coincide with the revival at the RSC in summer 2023.

Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, 1887. At East London's Tilbury Docks, Rani Das and Abdul Karim, step ashore after the long voyage from India. One has to battle a society who deems her a second-class citizen; the other forges an astonishing entanglement with the ageing Queen Victoria who finds herself enchanted by stories of an India over which she rules, but has never seen. Through narrative, music and song, The Empress blends the true story of Queen Victoria’s controversial relationship with her Indian servant and ‘Munshi’ (teacher), Abdul Karim, with the experiences of Indian ayahs who came to Britain during the 19th century. With private romance being mapped onto world history, the action cuts between the ship and different royal residences, offering bright contrasts as well as surprising affinities. In doing so, the play uncovers remarkable unknown stories of 19th-century Britain and charts the growth of Indian nationalism and the romantic proclivities of one of Britain's most surprising monarchs.The Empress, which premiered at Stratford-upon-Avon's RSC in 2013, is published here as a Methuen Drama Student Edition with commentary and notes by Professor Jane Garnett, Wadham College, University of Oxford, UK.

In 2014 local historian Catherine Corless made a discovery of baby bones and skeletons in the grounds of a mother and baby home in Tuam, County Galway, Ireland. Built on the grounds of an old workhouse that operated between 1921 and 1961 the discovery threw up questions about the goings-on across this and similar institutions across Ireland. Tanika Gupta's powerful drama is loosely based on these recent and historical events, drawing inspiration from Corless' discovery.Told through the eyes of Grace and her grandchildren, Bones is a play about loss, punishment of unmarried mothers and the legacy of the demonisation of women by Church and State, where the human and reproductive rights of women are undermined.Bones premiered at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in 2019.Bones is published in Methuen Drama's Plays For Young People Age 16+ series which offers suitable plays for young performers at schools, youth groups and youth theatres that have each had premiere productions by young performers in the UK.

"Tanika Gupta’s epic drama pushes the boundaries of verbatim theatre, telling an important story in a fresh and authentic way never seen on stage before. A rousing piece of work." - Greg Walker, University of Edinburgh, UKBased on the true story of Tanika Gupta's great uncle, Lions and Tigers follows 19-year-old Dinesh Gupta's emotional and political awakening as a freedom fighter pitting himself against the British Raj.Drawn from family stories that the playwright herself heard from early childhood, the play teems with details drawn from her grandfather’s 500-page handwritten journal about his younger brother, and from the 92 letters written by her great uncle from his prison cell.Set against the backdrop of negotiations between the leaders of the Indian National Congress and culminating in actions that shook the very foundations of the British Empire, Lions and Tigers challenges our assumptions about Indian independence and offers powerful new insights into the battles between the British lions and the Bengal tigers. The play was first performed at Shakespeare’s Globe from the 23rd August to 16th September 2017, and was awarded the James Tait Black Prize for Drama in 2018. It is published here in Methuen Drama's Modern Classics series for the first time, with a brand new introduction by Durba Ghosh.

It is the Jubilee! Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, 1887. At Tilbury Docks, Rani and Abdul step ashore after the long voyage from India. One has to battle a society who deems her a second class citizen, the other forges an astonishing entanglement with the ageing Queen who finds herself enchanted by stories of an India she rules but has never seen.The Empress uncovers remarkable unknown stories of 19th century Britain, the growth of Indian nationalism and the romantic proclivities of one of our most surprising monarchs.

Three new plays from three of the UK's most celebrated playwrights. All rooted in West London, the plays explore race, identity and our sense of place and purpose, presented together as one piece, Out West. The Overseas Student by Tanika GuptaLondon. 1888. An 18-year-old Gandhi has just arrived from India to study Law. Miles from home, his wife and his family, we see him navigate a time of uncertainty, growth and opportunity. As he builds a new life, he explores the joys of money, food and women whilst facing the struggles of class and imperialism. Gupta’s sharp and profound play is an insight into the teenage years of a man we know will grow up to be one of the most significant figures in history.Blue Water and Cold and Fresh by Simon StephensLondon. 2020. A walk back in time. A walk that may change everything he’s ever believed.In the wake of city lockdown living and the Black Lives Matter protests, one man’s journey across London raises difficult truths he has to confront. The death of a loved one. His father’s racism. His own white privilege. This heartfelt piece explores what it means to be a father, husband and son.Go, Girl by Roy WilliamsLondon. 2020. Working as a security guard at Westfield and a mother to a teenage daughter, Donna sees her life as unremarkable. Why have things not turned out how she pictured when she was a young girl, inspired by the words of Michelle Obama? The hope and excitement she once felt has now become isolation and judgement of the choices she has made. Until one night Donna gets a call from her daughter that makes her rethink her entire life. As their bravery and humanity is tested, Donna realises just how remarkable they both truly are. A celebration of Black women, everyday heroism and female resilience.

Niru is a young Bengali woman married to an English colonial bureaucrat – Tom.Tom loves Niru, exoticising her as a frivolous plaything to be admired and kept; but Niru has a long-kept secret, and just as she thinks she is almost free of it, it threatens to bring her life crashing down around her.Tanika Gupta re-imagines Ibsen's classic play of gender politics through the lens of British colonialism, offering a bold, female perspective exploring themes of ownership and race.This edition is published for the first time in Methuen Drama's Plays For Young People series, aimed specifically at students aged 16-18 to perform and study.

Based on the true story of her great uncle and freedom fighter Dinesh Gupta, Lions and Tigers is Tanika Gupta's most personal play yet. It charts Dinesh Gupta's emotional and political awakening as this extraordinary 19 year old pits himself against the British Raj. The Empress: Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, 1887. At Tilbury Docks, Rani and Abdul step ashore after the long voyage from India. One has to battle a society who deems her a second class citizen, the other forges an astonishing entanglement with the ageing Queen who finds herself enchanted by stories of an India she rules but has never seen. Great Expectations: Relocating Pip's extraordinary journey to nineteenth-century India, this coming-of-age story, evoking some of Dickens' most colourful characters, is faithful to the period of the book and the richness of Dickens' language - a vivid theatrical retelling of a universally loved masterpiece. Refusing to be pigeonholed as an `Asian playwright', acclaimed British playwright Tanika Gupta has a fresh perspective on race relations, generational divide and sexual politics.

Nikolai, an 86 year old retired Ukrainian engineer and tractor historian in Peterborough, has fallen in love with 36 year old Valentina. His daughters, Vera and Nadezhda, who have not spoken to one another since their mother's death, unite in horror to defend their father and what remains of his pension. _x000D_ But is Valentina a refugee searching for better opportunities, or a bogus visa seeker trying to cheat a vulnerable old man? Growing closer to her sister, and unearthing some family history from which she has previously been shielded,

Based on the true story of her great uncle and freedom fighter Dinesh Gupta, Lions and Tigers is Tanika Gupta’s most personal play yet. It charts Dinesh Gupta’s emotional and political awakening as this extraordinary 19 year old pits himself against the British Raj.

Tanika Gupta returns with a hilarious and touching story of love, attachment and what we mean by home. Bindi and Mansoor might just be the most popular couple on their street, but after 45 years of a loving marriage, Mansoor has vowed to swap the cold streets of Stratford for a sun soaked Delhi. The problem? Bindi’s not convinced and has concocted a last minute plan to lure him back.

Moving, powerful, ethereal; Mind Walking is a celebration of the life of one extraordinary man, the enduring love story of a mature couple and their family.Bobby has led a remarkable life. Migrating from India as a young man he found love in the UK with his with wife Moira, but as a Parsi Bobby was expected to marry within the community. His family disowns him and as a result he cuts them, their religion and their culture from his life forever… until his mind starts to wander. As secrets and hidden stories tumble out of Bobby’s mouth, his family start to question the truth about their ancestry and shared history. Mind Walking explores what happens to a family when the mind of an old, Indian man, Bobby starts to unravel. This delicate, poetic play tumbles and traverses through Bobby’s memories on an intergenerational journey of family ties, religious dogma and cultural expectations.

Inspired by the world of the Mujra dancers, who for generations have entertained the rich and powerful with a spellbinding mix of dance and song, Wah! Wah! Girls tells a passionate and playful story of love against the odds. Set against the vibrant background of the East End in 2012, these unstoppable girls uncover deep secrets and create unexpected dreams. Wah! Wah! Girls is a feast for the senses that draws audiences into the world of the modern British-Asian community. Let the pleasure begin! Wah! Wah!

The first collection of plays by acclaimed British dramatist Tanika Gupta includes Sugar Mummies, White Boy, Sanctuary and Gladiator Games. Refusing to be pigeonholed as an ‘Asian playwright’, Gupta has a fresh perspective on race relations, generational divide and sexual politics. A National Youth Theatre production, White Boy attempts to make sense of school-age stabbings and the nature of inner city white identity, in an increasingly complex racial landscape. In Sugar Mummies, the gender politics of the sex trade are inverted as wealthy white women flock to the Carribean to take advantage of the native toy-boys. But who is exploiting who? On the eve of his release from Feltham Young Offenders Institution, Zahib Mubarek was attacked and killed by his racist cellmate. Gladiator Games is a verbatim drama that documents the Mubarek family's pursuit of the truth and the incompetence of the official response. In Sanctuary a London churchyard becomes a haven for the gardener Kabir. When a photo of an African church appears in this little Eden, a complex drama of morality and conscience unfolds.

Aaron and Anita are in lust. They’re the last to think there could be any long-term future in the relationship. At thirty, Anita is, according to her mother Chitra, past her sell by date, whilst Aaron is, according to his mother Leticia, a heartless ladykiller. But despite their own uncertainties, the couple can’t help but eventually fall for each other. As their relationship deepens, they have to introduce their families to each other and Anita’s mother is not impressed when she meets her future Jamaican born son-in-law for the first time. Aaron and Anita come face to face with the prejudices and fears of both sets of in-laws who seem to group together in opposition to their union. Will their love survive the test?

Rikki's mates come from all over the world, and as far as they're concerned they are all 'breddas'. But when tragedy befalls one of them, Rikki's forced to ask him self the serious question - what does it mean to be a white boy in Britain today?

On the eve of his release from Feltham Young Offenders Institution Zahid Mubarek, a young British Asian man, was attacked by his cellmate. One week later he died of his injuries. Was he sharing a cell with a known racist? This new play traces his family's pursuit of the truth. Based on interviews and accounts given to the Feltham Inquiry, one of Britain's pre-eminent writers examines the incompetence of the official response to Zahid Mubarek's death. "Gladiator Games" opens at the Crucible Theatre Studio, Sheffield in October 2005.