THE STAGE – WHAT’S ON REVIEWS
Translated into English Zameen means land, and that’s exactly what this piece of political theatre is all about. However, the danger, in this genre, is that often worthy is not necessarily entertaining.
Written by Satinder Kaur Chohan, Zameen explores the serious issues of environmental damage and how GM seeds and Western pesticides are affecting the lives of many families on the south Asian sub-continent. She has tried to personalise these vast global issues by honing in on one family, setting the play in the cotton fields of the Punjab where, we’re told, last year two farmers a week committed suicide because of bankruptcy.
The play began promisingly with a particularly good performance from Bhasker Patel as the farmer facing disaster, whilst Goldy Notay also makes a mark as his loyal daughter Chandni, but other performances varied in quality.
Chohan’s piece emphasises that whilst the central problems of this work may seem distant, we consumers are complicit in our choices. Performed by the Kali Theatre Company, which specialises in work written by Asian women, it’s directed by Janet Steel. But, at over two hours, it’s far too long and much of the repetition and flowery imagery could easily be cut.
Whilst wishing to encourage the work of new, young playwrights - and there is promise in this piece - perhaps a delay in heralding the world premiere at this stage in its development would have been wiser, as it’s still a work in progress.
Production information
By: Satinder Kaur Chohan
Management: Khali Theatre Company in association with Contact Theatre, Manchester
Cast: Amarjit Bassan, Ravin Ganatra, Goldy Notay, Bhasker Patel, Gurpeet Singh
Director: Janet Steele
Production information can change over the run of the show.
Run sheet
Contact Manchester - April 21-26
Drum Plymouth - April 29-May 3
Repertory, Door Studio Birmingham - May 21-24
Nuffield Southampton - June 2- 3
West Yorkshire Playhouse Leeds - June 5- 7
ZAMEEN (LAND)
By Kali Theatre
Written by Satinder Kaur Chohan
7 - 17 May; Tue-Sat 7pm (Press Night 8 May at 7pm)
Matinees: Thurs & Sat at 3pm
The Arts Theatre
Grt. Newport St, London
Box Office: 0870 847 1608
Tickets £15-£18
www.redhotcurry.comIn the cotton fields of the Punjab a small farmer waits anxiously for the harvest, pinning his hopes for prosperity on GM seeds and Western pesticides to ensure an abundant crop. When disaster occurs and the crops begin to fail, he falls deeper into debt to the local money-lender. Full of frustrated ambition his son turns to drink and dreams of escape while his dutiful daughter finds herself torn between staying in poverty on the land she loves or following the man she adores to a better life in the West.
Zameen (Land) is a beautifully written and moving drama that explores the devastating effects that global agribusiness can have on real human lives. It was developed through Kali Futures, a new writing development programme and showcased at the Asian Women Talkback Festival at Soho Theatre in November 2006.
Zameen sheds light on a topical issue in India and many developing countries where agriculture has become big business. In India this was triggered by reforms initiated by the World Bank over a decade ago which shifted the land to commercial agriculture with monoculture crops and allowed companies to provide GM seeds. The spiraling costs of GM seeds, chemical fertilizers and pesticides, machinery and diesel forced many farmers to take out heavy loans at high rates of interest. Their inability to pay due to low income, repeated crop failures, water shortages, low market prices and lack of government support have lead to over 25,000 farmers to take their own lives.
Writer, Satinder Kaur Chohan is of Punjabi origin and has worked as a researcher for television documentaries. This is her first dramatic work.