made at curve production to make indian premiere

Curve theatre’s world-premiere production of Pink Sari Revolution will be presented at India’s leading cultural institution, the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai on 7 Feb.

Originally produced by Curve, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, Leeds Playhouse and in association with English Touring Theatre, the Made at Curve drama toured the UK throughout the autumn of 2017.

Pink Sari Revolution 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 reportedly numbers over 400,000 members in a part of the world where violence towards women is rife.

The play was adapted for the stage by Indian playwright Purva Naresh, winner of the United Nations Laadli Media Award for her work on gender, from the critically acclaimed book of the same name by journalist Amana Fontanella-Khan.

Supported by Arts Council England and the British Council, this semi-staged NCPA and Curve production is once again directed by Curve’s Associate Director Suba Das. Musician Nicki Wells, who has recently worked with acclaimed Producer Nitin Sawhney, joins the company as Composer. A team of Indian performers, including original cast member Ulrika Krishnamurti, will bring the tale of female uprising to life for new audiences in India.

Speaking about the international performance, Curve’s Chief Executive Chris Stafford and Artistic Director Nikolai Foster said:

“We were proud to present Pink Sari Revolution in Leicester, celebrating the courageous work of Sampat Pal and the many thousands of extraordinary women like her. Leicester audiences embraced Pal’s story of defiance and making a stand for equality wholeheartedly and it is humbling this story has now returned home to India, where its politic will resonate in entirely new, vivid and vital ways. Purva and Amana are trailblazers in their own right and we salute them and thank them for this beautiful and provocative work.”

Helen Silvester, Director of British Council West India said:

“We are delighted to support the powerful work Pink Sari Revolution by Curve theatre, UK, in India for the first time in collaboration with the NCPA. The drama was staged at Leicester as part of the UK-India Year of Culture in 2017, highlighting the universal themes of oppression against women and female empowerment. We are committed to supporting women and social change through the arts, while connecting UK and Indian artists and creative industries and inspiring people everywhere.”

This marks Curve’s first presentation in India, having previously taken its Made at Curve productions to South Korea (Legally Blonde), Hong Kong (The Witches), Dubai (Grease) and to numerous cities across Europe.

For more information on the performance of Pink Sari Revolution, visit www.ncpamumbai.com