Tanika Gupta: Historical Plays: The Waiting Room; Great Expectations; The Empress; Lions and Tigers

Lions and Tigers is Tanika Gupta's most personal play, based on the true story of her great uncle and freedom fighter Dinesh Gupta. It charts Dinesh's emotional and political awakening as he pits himself against the British Raj. The Empress: Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, 1887, is a coming-of-age story that relocates Pip's journey to nineteenth-century India. Tanika Gupta has a fresh perspective on race relations,generational divide, and sexual politics.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 02 January 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Lions and Tigers, written by acclaimed British playwright Tanika Gupta, is a deeply personal play that draws inspiration from the true story of her great uncle and freedom fighter, Dinesh Gupta. Set against the backdrop of the British Raj in 19th-century India, the play charts Dinesh's emotional and political awakening as he confronts the oppressive forces of the colonial regime.

The Empress: Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, 1887, is another remarkable work by Gupta. The play takes place at Tilbury Docks, where Rani and Abdul, two individuals from different backgrounds, arrive after a long voyage from India. Rani faces societal discrimination as a second-class citizen, while Abdul forms an astonishing entanglement with Queen Victoria, who is captivated by stories of an India she rules but has never seen.

Great Expectations: Relocating Pip's extraordinary journey to nineteenth-century India, this coming-of-age story is faithful to the period of the book and the richness of Dickens's language. It is a vivid theatrical retelling of a universally loved masterpiece, evoking some of Dickens's most colourful characters.

Gupta's unique perspective on race relations,generational divide, and sexual politics sets her apart as an Asian playwright. Her works explore the complexities of identity and the struggles of individuals against societal expectations. Through her powerful storytelling and insightful exploration of historical themes, Gupta has garnered critical acclaim and a growing international audience.

Lions and Tigers, The Empress: Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, and Great Expectations are just a few examples of her remarkable body of work that continue to resonate with audiences worldwide. Her plays have been performed in various theaters and festivals, earning her numerous awards and recognition.

In conclusion, Tanika Gupta is a talented and accomplished playwright whose works explore the complexities of human experience and shed light on important social issues. Through her powerful storytelling and insightful exploration of historical themes, she has made a significant impact on the world of theater and inspired a new generation of artists.

Weight: 490g
Dimension: 131 x 199 x 53 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781786825452