We can now reveal Nautanki Theatre's amazing line up
of cast and creatives for Indian Embrace opening
August 21 at the Riverside in Parramatta.
The cast: Ambika Asthana, Neel
Banerjee, Shashidar Dandekar, James Herrington, Steven Menteith and Lucy
Rasheed. Creatives: Director Lenore Robertson, Costumes Pam
Legge, Lighting design Richard Neville.
Like many travellers, I became fascinated by
Varanasi, India, the first time I went there.
Also known as Banaras and as Kashi, it is believed to be the oldest
continuously inhabited city in the world.
I set about writing the play on the plane back to Australia. In 2012 I converted just one scene for a
Short and Sweet Ten Play Festival entry and got in the Sydney and the Chennai,
India, Festivals. Comments from the
Sydney show were: "Carol Dance
has written with much wisdom and insight.
Carol's writing about the Indian ethos is discerning and
perceptive" Preeti Thadani, India
Link. Then Nautanki Theatre decided
to produce the full-length play.
Indian
Embrace
engages both Indian-Australians and all Australians. The River Ganges runs through the story as
three Australians and three Indians in the ancient city face danger
together. And, wow, do they bond! Universal emotions subjugate cultural
differences. There are many comic,
tragic and amazing twists and turns and we're not going to spoil it by telling
you any more. There are five
performances so be fast to book.
