Writer: Kaya Uppal
Director: Akshita
Reviewer: Christine Stanton
“Fast-Paced & Fully Packed“
3 / 5
When four girls meet in the waiting room of an audition to play Priti Patel, they unexpectedly hit it off. They quickly decide they’re less keen to portray Priti, and instead eager to compile a show together that reflects their experiences as South Asian girls living in the UK.
The show is segmented into short chapters, each signifying different aspects of their lives, prefaced with their age by the actor leading that particular anecdote. A lot of ground is covered – childhood, families, weddings, racism and notable women in history that have made an impact. The little sketches are often very funny, while still maintaining a lot of heart and authenticity. The fun and silliness, like the gender reveal, or Love Island skit, draws the audience in, while still making important statements about their lives and backgrounds. Occasionally the issue with such a multitude of chapters, is that some segments don’t get as much attention as they deserve – instead it’s often just skimming the surface of some of the key messages and stories and quickly onto the next scene, which sometimes doesn’t give the well layered writing and interesting subject matter justice.
The foundation plot of the Priti Patel audition, becomes slightly repetitive, and although it’s nice having some backstory on how the characters met, it could quite easily be incorporated as the first chapter and then not re-visited. The frequent call backs to the audition process, although adding an aspect of realism, feels underproduced compared to the other better assembled scenes. The chapters are the real draw of the show, and are strong and intriguing enough to stand alone and take centre spotlight.
The four performers – Kaya Uppal, Amrita Mangat, Amber Zarya and Misha Domadia are all brilliantly talented and fantastically utilise the ‘in the round’ staging set up at The Glitch. Each of the four seamlessly move around the space, ensuring there’s not a bad seat in the house. Before the show begins, there are some brief interactions with the audience, as they showcase their vibrant and engaging personalities, which translates well into the varied characters they depict. During each chapter, they morph into a variety of different people, often interchanging with each other, and embracing the fast-paced, fully-packed nature of the show. Their chemistry is undeniable, and they portray their sisterhood in such an endearing, enjoyable manner.
It’s fantastic to see such an authentic, genuine, engaging show – performed by such a wonderful cast. While there are some moments where some more detail or expansion could be added, overall it’s a wonderful snapshot into the lives and experiences of South Asian women.
Runs until 10th February 2025
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