Productions

King Troll (The Fawn)

by Sonali Bhattacharyya

4 October – 2 November | New Diorama Theatre

Captioned 7:30pm, Thur 24 Oct | Relaxed 7:30pm, Wed 30 Oct | Babes-in-Arms 2pm, Thur 31 Oct

Share
Book Now

A dystopian tale about the corrosive impact of state racism and the monster within

Two migrant sisters Riya and Nikita navigate the increasingly authoritarian island where they live in wildly different ways – both insecure, stateless and desperate for somewhere to call ‘home’

Riya is offered the chance to create an advocate in the form of a homunculus, or fawn and sees a chance to elevate herself above the cruelty meted out to others

Nikita tries to keep her saviour complex in check as she negotiates the challenges and hypocrisy of the third sector where she supports migrant teenagers. A deep connection with one client forces her to confront the limitations of her work

King Troll is about the troll that lives within all of us – whispering ‘me, not us’, and definitely ‘me first’

The play was a finalist for the 2023 Women’s Prize for Playwriting.

“Big, angry bear,

Drags you by the hair,

Rough, wet tongue,

Licks you ‘til you cum.

Sharp, curved claws,

Tear your silky drawers,

Smooth, arched back,

Hear your spine go crack.”

Writer Sonali Bhattacharyya is an award-winning playwright whose stage plays include Arabian Nights (Bristol Old Vic), Two Billion Beats (Orange Tree Theatre) and Chasing Hares (Young Vic/Theatre Uncut) winner of the Theatre Uncut Political Playwriting Award and the Sonia Friedman Production Award

Director Milli Bhatia is a stage and screen director, and dramaturg. She is a two-time Olivier Award nominee, for her productions of seven methods of killing kylie jenner and Blue Mist – both premiered at The Royal Court Theatre

A co-production with New Diorama Theatre

The full script for King Troll (The Fawn) was originally commissioned by Kali Theatre for its HOME Plays programme. The idea was initially developed in a commission from Caitlin McLeod and Martha Rose Wilson of The Coterie.

King Troll (The Fawn) includes blood, physical violence, descriptions of torture and gore, strong language and sexual content. Age guidance 15+

Writer Sonali Bhattacharyya

Sonali Bhattacharyya is an award-winning playwright whose stage plays include Arabian Nights (Bristol Old Vic), Two Billion Beats (Orange Tree Theatre) and Chasing Hares (Young Vic/Theatre Uncut) winner of the Theatre Uncut Political Playwriting Award and the Sonia Friedman Production Award.

About the writer

About The Play

Team

CAST

Tahir – Diyar Bozkurt

Shashi/Mrs B – Ayesha Dharker

Nikita – Zainab Hasan

The Fawn – Dominic Holmes

Riya – Safiyya Ingar

CREATIVE TEAM

Writer – Sonali Bhattacharyya

Director – Milli Bhatia

Movement Director – Iskandar Sharazuddin

Designer – Rajha Shakiry

Design Associate – Yimei Zhao

Lighting Designer – Elliot Griggs

Composer & Sound Designer – XANA

Fight Director – Bret Yount

Voice Coach – Gurkiran Kaur

Casting Director – Arthur Carrington

Assistant Director – Neetu Singh

PRODUCTION TEAM

Production Manager – Chris Burr

Stage Manager – Stacey Nurse

Assistant Stage Manager – Masha Kononovs

Assistant Director – Neetu Singh

Wardrobe Supervisor – Katie Whyte

Artist Wellbeing Practitioner – Eshmit Kaur

Reviews

Reviews for King Troll (The Fawn)

★★★★★ “Milli Bhatia’s production of Sonali Bhattacharyya’s bleak allegorical dystopia is an awesome and unsettling experience” – Time Out

★★★★★ “As an art form theatre is rarely truly frightening. Often a show will be disquieting, or sinister, but as King Troll began, I was confronted with the unusual sensation of fear… It is thought provoking and moving and is horror at its best.” – The Spy in the Stalls

★★★★★ “As terrifying as it is heartbreaking, Sonali Bhattacharyya’s script masterfully explores the complexities of migrant experiences wrapped up in a thrilling horror allegory… an expertly executed political thriller.” – Theatre and Tonic

★★★★ “Grim, modern-day reality and folklore chillingly collide in Sonali Bhattacharyya’s new play… Milli Bhatia’s production brims with an anger fuelled by dark playfulness.” – The Stage

★★★★ “Nerves jangle from the first moment, and never get a chance to calm during this cracking show that nudges activist drama into atavistic horror.” – The Guardian

★★★★ “less apparitions and jump scares, and more an unsettling mirror held up to our inner selves revealing the monster within…” – All That Dazzles

★★★★1/2 “A wickedly clever exposure of state racism and anti-immigration sentiment packed to the punch with humour and spookiness.” – A Youngish Perspective

★★★★ “Striking a careful balance between thriller, political drama and comedy, writer Sonali Bhattacharyya and director Milli Bhatia have created a new genre: Home Office horror.” – What’s On Stage

★★★★ ‘This show deserves a long life ahead of it. It captures the heartache and urgency of our times with a spine-tingling poignancy few other works manage to achieve.” – Broadway World

King Troll (The Fawn)

by Sonali Bhattacharyya

4 October – 2 November | New Diorama Theatre

Captioned 7:30pm, Thur 24 Oct | Relaxed 7:30pm, Wed 30 Oct | Babes-in-Arms 2pm, Thur 31 Oct

Writer Sonali Bhattacharyya

Reviews for King Troll (The Fawn)

★★★★★ “Milli Bhatia’s production of Sonali Bhattacharyya’s bleak allegorical dystopia is an awesome and unsettling experience” – Time Out

★★★★★ “As an art form theatre is rarely truly frightening. Often a show will be disquieting, or sinister, but as King Troll began, I was confronted with the unusual sensation of fear… It is thought provoking and moving and is horror at its best.” – The Spy in the Stalls

★★★★★ “As terrifying as it is heartbreaking, Sonali Bhattacharyya’s script masterfully explores the complexities of migrant experiences wrapped up in a thrilling horror allegory… an expertly executed political thriller.” – Theatre and Tonic

★★★★ “Grim, modern-day reality and folklore chillingly collide in Sonali Bhattacharyya’s new play… Milli Bhatia’s production brims with an anger fuelled by dark playfulness.” – The Stage

★★★★ “Nerves jangle from the first moment, and never get a chance to calm during this cracking show that nudges activist drama into atavistic horror.” – The Guardian

★★★★ “less apparitions and jump scares, and more an unsettling mirror held up to our inner selves revealing the monster within…” – All That Dazzles

★★★★1/2 “A wickedly clever exposure of state racism and anti-immigration sentiment packed to the punch with humour and spookiness.” – A Youngish Perspective

★★★★ “Striking a careful balance between thriller, political drama and comedy, writer Sonali Bhattacharyya and director Milli Bhatia have created a new genre: Home Office horror.” – What’s On Stage

★★★★ ‘This show deserves a long life ahead of it. It captures the heartache and urgency of our times with a spine-tingling poignancy few other works manage to achieve.” – Broadway World

Intrepid plays
by fearless women
since 1991

Kali Newsletter

Writer Sonali Bhattacharyya

Reviews for King Troll (The Fawn)

★★★★★ “Milli Bhatia’s production of Sonali Bhattacharyya’s bleak allegorical dystopia is an awesome and unsettling experience” – Time Out

★★★★★ “As an art form theatre is rarely truly frightening. Often a show will be disquieting, or sinister, but as King Troll began, I was confronted with the unusual sensation of fear… It is thought provoking and moving and is horror at its best.” – The Spy in the Stalls

★★★★★ “As terrifying as it is heartbreaking, Sonali Bhattacharyya’s script masterfully explores the complexities of migrant experiences wrapped up in a thrilling horror allegory… an expertly executed political thriller.” – Theatre and Tonic

★★★★ “Grim, modern-day reality and folklore chillingly collide in Sonali Bhattacharyya’s new play… Milli Bhatia’s production brims with an anger fuelled by dark playfulness.” – The Stage

★★★★ “Nerves jangle from the first moment, and never get a chance to calm during this cracking show that nudges activist drama into atavistic horror.” – The Guardian

★★★★ “less apparitions and jump scares, and more an unsettling mirror held up to our inner selves revealing the monster within…” – All That Dazzles

★★★★1/2 “A wickedly clever exposure of state racism and anti-immigration sentiment packed to the punch with humour and spookiness.” – A Youngish Perspective

★★★★ “Striking a careful balance between thriller, political drama and comedy, writer Sonali Bhattacharyya and director Milli Bhatia have created a new genre: Home Office horror.” – What’s On Stage

★★★★ ‘This show deserves a long life ahead of it. It captures the heartache and urgency of our times with a spine-tingling poignancy few other works manage to achieve.” – Broadway World

Intrepid plays by fearless women since 1991

Kali Newsletter

Intrepid plays
by fearless women
since 1991