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Image below, second from bottom - a poster from 'Behzti'.

Film/Stage

'Behzti' Playwright Bounces Back With New Play

by TERRI PADDOCK

 

Playwright Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, who received death threats after her allegedly "anti-Sikh" play Behzti (Dishonour) sparked off protests when it premiered at the Birmingham Rep (United Kingdom) five years ago (See News, 20 Dec 2004), has written a new play about the experience.

A co-production between the Belgrade and Soho Theatres, the world premiere of Behud (Beyond Belief) will open in Coventry at the Belgrade, running from 27 March to 10 April, 2010 before transferring to London's Soho, where it will run from 13 April to 8 May, 2010 as the last play helmed by Soho's outgoing artistic director Lisa Goldman.

Speaking about Gurpreet's "playful and provocative" piece, Goldman said today: "We have been developing Behud for the last couple of years and it perfectly expresses what Soho Theatre has been about for me - daring, imaginative new writing with an emphasis on intercultural dialogue and pushing the boundaries of form and taste. Its generous exploration of the silencing of a playwright also reflects our passionate commitment to freedom of speech."

Initially peaceful demonstrations involving an estimated 400 protesters turned violent at a Saturday night performance of Behzti in December 2004 at Birmingham Rep. Some 85 police were required to restore order and evacuate more than 800 people from the theatre when protesters stormed the building. When local community leaders failed to provide assurances that there would be no further protests, Birmingham Rep cancelled the play's run, citing safety concerns.

The incident attracted headlines around the world and prompted an ongoing debate about artistic censorship. Supporters of the play said its cancellation was an affront to freedom of speech, and more than 700 leading arts figures signed a letter in support of Gurpreet Kaur, who went into hiding after receiving death threats. Subsequent attempts to restage Behzti were called off at her request.

Questioning the possibility of truth in the face of the communal importance placed on public honour, Behzti was a comedy set in a gurdwara and centring on the relationship between a past-her-prime woman named Min who spends her life caring her sick, foul-mouthed mother Balbir.

In the highly autobiographical new piece, Behud, a playwright attempts to make sense of the past by visiting the darkest corners of her imagination. Set amidst the theatre establishment, politicians and protesters, Behud is billed as a response to the events surrounding Behzti, and the story of an artist struggling to be heard.

 

[Courtesy: What's On Stage]

December 11, 2009

Conversation about this article

1: Harinder (Bangalore, India), December 12, 2009, 10:20 AM.

Let "Behud" run freely, not only in the U.K. but also in Punjab and India. Sikhs, I am sure, have nothing to be ashamed of for the misdemeanor of some of their co-religionists. If some wrong has been done by some Sikhs, they need to be subjected to the laws of the land - and get whatever help they need as well. But, above all, the playwright must have the freedom to write what she perceives as the truth.

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