I’ve been calling this my Tagore play but of course, it is nothing of the sort. Nevertheless, the inspiration comes from the plays of Tagore and looking at the roles of the women within them. In particular, I was struck by Red Oleanders and the plight of the main character, Nandini struggling against the power of a mine owner. Tagore’s spiritual connection to nature and the environment, his recognition of the inequality of women in society and his sense of the limitation of national boundaries have all inspired me. This is the start of a narrative journey, in which I have tried to encapsulate the story of two sisters, separated by national boundaries at a young age, who grow up with profoundly opposing attitudes to the environment. It is also about how we as individuals try to live in a harmonious place with ourselves while we struggle to find our place in the world.
Sayan Kent