August 2003 — March 2005

Strictly Dandia

by Sudha Bhuchar and Kristine Landon-Smith

Winner of a Herald Angel Award for Choreography

“A new voice from a newly confident community, telling old stories in ways that make them matter again. And to hear that voice is such a pure, life-enhancing pleasure”

The Scotsman

Set during Navratri, STRICTLY DANDIA focuses on the cultural differences between the generations, embodied in the love story between a Hindu girl and a Muslim boy. The play takes place over nine nights preceding the festival of Diwali and is fused with spectacular dance sequences, choreographed by Liam Steele of DV8.

Sudha, Kristine and Sue researched this play during Navratri in North London. It was the first time that Tamasha created a play specifically for the middle-scale. The play opened at the Edinburgh International Festival in August 2003, where it won an award for best choreography.

Credits

Director Kristine Landon-Smith

Designer Sue Mayes

Choreographer Liam Steel

Lighting Designer Chris Davey

Composer Shri (Shrikanth Sriram)

Sound Designer Mike Furness

Trainee Director Samina Baig

Assistant Designer Rachana Jadhav

Original Cast

Sudha Bhuchar

Charubala Chokshi

Susan Cruse

Rina Fatania

Shiv Grewal

Davina Hemlall

Divian Ladwa

Chris Ryman

Rehan Sheikh

Sonit Shringi

Paul Tilley

Fiona Wade