In Conversation: Kavita Puri and Iqbal Khan | SILENCE UK Tour

Tara Theatre presents an exclusive interview between Kavita Puri and Iqbal Khan discussing the legacy of Partition, the challenges and discoveries in staging SILENCE, and why these testimonies need to be heard in 2024
SILENCE tours to ‪@QueensTheatreHornchurch‬ ‪@curvetheatre‬ ‪@BirminghamRepTheatre‬ and ‪@HOMEmcrorg‬ this spring
🗓️ 6 Apr - 4 May
🎟️ taratheatre.co...
🎥 Interview Filmed and Edited by Ula Moroz
About SILENCE
“It was a great tragedy.  We were friends one day and enemies the next.  I will take these things to my grave.”
The 1947 partition of India into West Pakistan and East Pakistan - now Bangladesh - saw millions uprooted and resulted in unspeakable violence. It would also shape modern Britain. Witnesses to this brutal moment in history live among us, yet the stories of that time remain shrouded in silence.
SILENCE is a new play focused on communal storytelling - presenting a shared history inspired by the remarkable personal testimonies of people who lived through the last days of the British Raj. Commissioned to mark the 75th anniversary of partition, SILENCE is adapted from Kavita Puri’s acclaimed book Partition Voices: Untold British Stories and was originally co-produced with the Donmar Warehouse.
The production examined the legacy of this brutal moment in history. Abdul Shayek, former Artistic Director of Tara Theatre, directed the original production and had developed this version for touring at the time of his death in August 2023. Iqbal Khan, Artistic Director of the 2022 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony, and a friend and colleague of Abdul’s, will step in to direct the touring version.
SILENCE is adapted from the testimonies and stories of people who lived through Partition. It is based on Kavita Puri’s acclaimed book Partition Voices: Untold British Stories and written by Sonali Bhattacharyya, Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, Ishy Din and Alexandra Wood. 
Original production directed and developed for tour by Abdul Shayek
Directed by Iqbal Khan
From an original co-production by Tara Theatre and The Donmar Warehouse
In association with Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch
Cast
Aaron Gill: Young Irfan / Tony / Noor’s Grandson / Sami
Alexandra D’Sa: Maya / Daughter
Asif Khan: Jasvir / Kulvinder / James
Bhasker Patel: Father / Irfan / Mukesh
Mamta Kaash: Pooja / Khadija / Noor
Tia Dutt: Mandeep / Jasmine / Zara
Creative Team
Original production directed and developed for tour by Abdul Shayek
Directed by Iqbal Khan
Set Design by Rachana Jadhav
Original Costume Design by Rose Revitt
Projection Design by Rachana Jadhav and Simeon Miller
Movement Direction by Seeta Patel
Lighting Design by Simeon Miller
Sound Design and Composition by Beth Duke
Casting by Polly Jerrold
Associate Direction by Olivia Millar-Ross
Associate Costume Design by Malena Arcucci
Production Team
Executive Producer of Silence - Bella Rodrigues
Production Manager - Chloe Stally-Gibson
Costume Supervisor - Malena Arcucci
Company and Stage Manager - April Johnston
Deputy Stage Manager - Emily Davies
Assistant Stage Manager - Florian Lim
Wardrobe Manager - Sophia Raja
Production Video Engineer - Grace Duff
Production LX - Chris McDonnell
Sound and Video Technician - Grace Duff
Tour Re-Lighter & LX Operator - Chris McDonnell
Tara Theatre
Artistic Director - Natasha Kathi-Chandra
Executive Director - Helen Jeffreys
Head of Finance and Operations - Lisa Kerridge
Senior Producer - Neena Shea
Front of House and Building Manager - Ellie Oke
Interim Head of Marketing - Becca Pratt
Marketing Officer - Frederick Zennor
Technical Manager - Lisa Hood