Flier for the performance of The Great Gogia Pasha: World’s Greatest Magician © The Magic Circle, London

The British Asian Theatre Project is a 4-year research project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council that seeks to document the presence of South Asians on the British stage, from magicians of the 1790s to new generations of British Asians.

The research team, Graham Ley, Dr. Sarah Dadswell, Professor Phillip Zarrilli Stephen Hodge and Jerri Daboo aim to provide a critical and documentary history of this major aspect of the modern and contemporary British theatre, with particular emphasis on the period from 1975, when Tara Arts was founded by Jatinder Verma. The project has an AHRC-funded PhD studentship, which is held by Chandrika Patel.

The Project Outline provides a detailed description of the aims and objectives of the project. The team’s research extends to both community and professional theatre and forms of South Asian live performance. In addition special focus is placed on the historical development of South Asian live performance in the following regions: Bradford, Oldham and Manchester, Leicester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Edinburgh, and Tower Hamlets and Southall. The research team is conducting interviews in these areas and welcomes Your Memories of participating in and experiencing forms of South Asian theatre, music and dance. To get involved and contribute your valuable stories to our growing research contact the team on batp@exeter.ac.uk or follow the link Your Memories.

Project Output will consist of a number of academic articles and a book publication. In addition, the Department of Drama will host a Conference towards the conclusion of the project, aiming to place the research findings in the wider international context of migrant and diaspora theatre.

To find out more about the project’s progress read the Project Update. Alternatively, please address any enquiries to Dr. Sarah Dadswell or Graham Ley – Contact Us.

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