Discovery Showcase 2024
Staged readings of 12 striking short plays by newly discovered talents
February - March 2024
London | Birmingham | Leicester
Discovery Birmingham Showcase
22 March Birmingham Repertory Theatre
3pm & 7pm
Staged Readings of 4 striking short plays by newly discovered talents from Birmingham and beyond
RITUALS by Gurpreet Jivan.
“Mum used to keep a wooden box on the shelf opposite her bed. We never touched it, only watched how she’d care for it.” Sharing their memories, two Sikh sisters from Birmingham learn about their mother.
THE RECIPE by Kerena Jagpal
A family recipe is passed down through generations and now the youngest is ready to learn. But it’s more than spices and sabji that we come to learn about. Three generations of women in a Panjabi family grapple with expectations of themselves… and each other.
HOW TO BE BROWN by Hannah Ali Khan
“D’you ever wish you was more brown?” Maya wants to be more brown. Saz thinks she’s brown enough. But as Maya turns more towards the friendly but conventional Anica for advice, can their friendship survive?
CONVERSATION by Ilina Jha
An awkward meeting. An unintended insult. A silenced house party. Having a ‘normal’ conversation in a neurotypical world was never going to be easy.
Discovery Birmingham Team
Directors Helena Bell & Beth Kapila
Dramaturg – Aisha Khan
Dramaturgy Placement – Naomi Joseph
Content warning: Mentions of drug use and mental health issues.
Cast List
RITUALS by Gurpreet Jivan
Sat – Karendip Phull
Dev – Sabrina Sandhu
HOW TO BE BROWN by Hannah Ali Khan
Mia – Nia Gandhi
Saz – Sabrina Sandhu
Anica – Simran Kular
THE RECIPE by Kerena Jagpal
Gurdev – Sakuntala Ramanee
Harmeet – Bhawna Bhawsar
Nav – Karendip Phull
CONVERSATION by Ilina Jha
Young Woman – Nia Gandhi
Voice in Head – Sabrina Sandhu
Mother – Bhawna Bhawsar
Conversation Partner 1/Partygoer 1 – Simran Kular
Conversation Partner 2 /Partygoer 2 – Karendip Phull
Discovery Leicester Showcase
1 March Curve
3pm & 7pm
Staged Readings of 4 striking short plays by newly discovered talents from Leicester and beyond
IT MOVED FOR ME by Upasana Kadam
Past and Present collide in this haunting memory play as Nina recalls moments from her lost romance in the hope of understanding her newfound grief.
HOPE NEW MILL by Amina Beg
Three female students find themselves stranded in the countryside with only the jinns and the insects for company. A funny, fresh look at the preoccupations of young women today.
CHRYSALIS by Shaira Sandhu
A thought provoking play about change and metamorphosis. We can each find beauty in a flawless form, but when limitations occur do we dream of perfection, or acceptance for all.
THE INCIDENT by Amrita Manku
A typical evening takes a cosmic turn when a stranger pays Sage a visit, derailing life as she knew it. A humorous and unexpected take on reclaiming one’s destiny and the intertwining threads of fate and consequence.
Discovery Leicester Team
Directors – Helena Bell & Trina Halder
Aisha Khan – Dramaturg
Naomi Joseph – Dramaturgy Placement
Content information: The plays contain themes that some people may find distressing – themes of bereavement and mental health issues plus some strong language and mention of drug taking.
Age Guide 14 plus
Cast List
IT MOVED FOR ME by Upasana Kadam
Nina Chandni Mistry
Past Nina Simran Kular
James Elan Butler
CHRYSALIS by Shaira Sandhu
VI Chandni Mistry
Lav Kate Spencer
Iris Sabrina Nabi
HOPE NEW MILL by Amina Beg
Ara Sabrina Nabi
Khadijah Kate Spencer
Maryam Simran Kular
Sheraz Aaron Virdi
THE INCIDENT by Amrita Manku
Sage Chandni Mistry
Thyme Kate Spencer
Discovery London Showcase
9 February Theatre503
Script-in-hand performances of 4 striking short plays by newly discovered talents
SPOT by Yasmin Mehboob-Khan
Through weird and wild corners of the internet, Spot discovers that they are a non-monogamist. On a mission to redefine love, Spot explores queer polyamory – but is haunted by absurd characters on the way.
THIS IS A COW by Khushali Maroo
A cow is born and then it dies. A play about the different ways we meet the cow – in the shed, the slaughterhouse, and at dinner. A play that explores violence and love.
LIMINAL by Roopak Khara
Liminal challenges you to ponder the boundaries between Nirvana and the Mental Health Act. Punjabi? Psychotic? Patient? Pick a ‘P’ – but pick wisely!
THE WIG by Shezah Salam
Amongst the toupees and crew cuts of a West London wig shop, a grouchy cancer patient and his tenacious wife realise they have some hard choices to make. And not all of them are about hair.
Theatre503
503 Battersea Park Rd, London SW11 3BW Directions
Box Office 020 7978 7040 Book here
Running time: Approx. 80 minutes (no interval)
Age guidance: 16+
Content information: The plays contain themes that some people may find distressing – view content information here
Discovery London Team
Directors – Helena Bell & Trina Halder
Dramaturg – Atiha Sen Gupta
With additional dramaturgy by Naomi Joseph, Kali’s 23/24 Dramaturg Training Placement.
photo credit: Ikin Yum
Cast List
SPOT by Yasmin Mehboob-Khan
Spot – Aryana Ramkhalawon
Khai – Lydia Bakelmun
Faz – Gurjot Dhaliwal
The Others – Safiyya Ingar
THIS IS A COW by Khushali Maroo
Gopi – Gurjot Dhaliwal
Christine – Lydia Bakelmun
Leela – Safiyya Ingar
Nik – Devesh Kishore
LIMINAL by Roopak Kaur Khara
Mrs Kaur – Safiyya Ingar
Dr Singh – Lydia Bakelmun
Dr Patel – Asif Khan
THE WIG by Shezah Salam
Mo – Devesh Kishore
Badr – Aryana Ramkhalawon
James – Asif Khan
Gail – Gurjot Dhaliwal
Stage Manager – Eliott Sheppard