SPURNED BY PEERS, OXFORD’S BAME STUDENTS STAGE DRAMA TO ACCLAIM
ASIAN undergraduates at Oxford have joined forces with their fellow black students to mount a dramatic act of rebellion that they claim has “never happened before” at the university.
The students have successfully put on a play in which every member of the cast and production team was from a BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) background.
They say that for far too long, black and Asian students were not even being auditioned because drama was thought to be the exclusive preserve of “white students like Hugh Grant” (currently portraying Jeremy Thorpe in the BBC TV drama, A Very English Scandal).
After challenging the assumptions of entitlement by white students from privileged backgrounds, the play they staged to standing ovations last month at the O’Reilly Theatre at Keble College was Medea, a Greek tragedy written by
Euripides and first performed in 431 BC.
Medea, a wife who is considered a barbarian and an outsider, is outraged, betrayed and humiliated when her husband dumps her for a new lover, Princess Glauce, the daughter of King Creon. She kills her rival by gifting her a poisoned cloak and crown, which also causes the death of Creon as he embraces his dying daughter. And in order to inflict the maximum pain on her unfaithful husband Jason, Medea murders their two young sons and even takes away their bodies so as to deny him the solace of giving them a burial.
Two of the outstanding performances were by Charithra Chandran, a PPE student at New College (ironically, Grant’s old college), as Medea, and Shreya Lakhani, an undergraduate at Balliol reading Sanskrit and Hindi, as the Messenger. All the mayhem occurs off stage, and it is left to the Messenger to bring news of the murders to Medea. The Messenger – and the audience – watch as a happy smile lights up Medea’s face.
“The challenge was to make this awful, terrible character empathetic and somehow find ways I could relate to in order to embody the role in a genuine manner,” explained Chandran.
She saw some parallels with what can happen when an immigrant community is marginalised despite having contributed to British society for decades. “Medea is ultimately just one tale of what happens when you are disenfranchised – a very simple tale, but that’s what’s so brilliant about it.”
Lakhani, who gave a near faultless performance as did members of the Chorus, said: “I absolutely loved the energy – being in a cast full of people of colour was so special. (This is) not something Oxford has ever seen before.
“It is a watershed moment for Oxford as a whole as well as the drama scene.”
Lakhani said drama at Oxford “represents or used to represent Hugh Grant and those traditional white people”.
She continued: “The type of people in this play were not getting into Oxford productions – they were not even auditioning.
“It is also proving a point to the majority of the production companies in Oxford who are not predominantly BAME. It is telling them, ‘You need to give these people a chance.’”
The programme features many Asians names – Rishem Khattar and Shivaike Shah as co-producers and Krishan Emmanuel as assistant producer. Also listed are Jeevan Ravindran (the voice of Creon); Dhanya Nair (Tutor); Anushka Shah, Olivia Moinuddin and Madhulika Murali (all in the Chorus which did a Bollywood dance); Lorraine Dindi (costumiere); Sparshita Dey and Shyam Patel (choreography); Ramani Chandramohan (marketing assistant); and Simran Uppal (spoken word).
“We hope everyone in this production will carry on doing drama,” was Lakhani’s fervent wish.
There were as many black students involved, with the greatest credit going to the gifted director, Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, who has broken through to become president of the Oxford University Dramatic Society.
Now in her second year at St John’s College reading music, she confirmed: “Yes, I chose the play. The birth of theatre began with Greek tragedy and I have always loved theatre – it has always been a big part of my life.”
Amewudah-Rivers was given permission to adapt a 2008 translation of Medea by the Scottish poet, Robin Robertson.
She wanted to make Medea “relevant to modern-day audiences using a BAME cast and crew”.
She said: “One of the things about drama here at Oxford is that it is very much the same type of people performing in all the plays.
“It is usually people who have done lots of drama before, been to really good schools and have had access to great theatre and have the confidence to perform.
“One of the things I really wanted to bring out in this BAME production was the new talent and people who haven’t done lots of drama here.
“But you can see there is a willingness to learn. There is raw talent and that shouldn’t be pushed aside for people who are more confident and have had more experience. We have just shown that they are capable, if you really believe in something.”
The men avoided deportation nearly a decade ago by renouncing their Pakistani citizenship to claim statelessness, and remain in the UK despite repeated court rejections, as Pakistan had refused to accept them. (Representational image: iStock)
TWO ringleaders of the Rochdale grooming gang, Qari Abdul Rauf and Adil Khan, could be deported to Pakistan by the end of the year, according to a Pakistani government official.
The UK has been trying to deport the pair for years following their convictions. Negotiations have intensified since the UK lifted its five-year ban on Pakistani International Airlines (PIA) in July. The Times reported that Pakistan has used the case of Rauf and Khan as leverage in efforts to remove the airline suspension.
A senior Pakistani official involved in the talks said the country’s interior ministry must issue legal clearance before the deportation can proceed.
“I believe a resolution could be reached within a month or two, although there are some legal and political complexities involved. Once they provide clearance, it will be passed to the foreign ministry, which will finalise the acceptance of Rauf and Khan,” the official said to The Times.
The men avoided deportation nearly a decade ago by renouncing their Pakistani citizenship before a court appeal, successfully arguing they would be left stateless. Despite judges rejecting their appeals multiple times, they remain in the UK because Pakistan had refused to accept them.
Immigration law expert Osama Malik told The Times Pakistan’s willingness to accept them despite the nationality issue was surprising and could set a precedent. He suggested Pakistan may expect investment and aid in return.
Paul Waugh, Labour MP for Rochdale, said he was encouraged by the progress. “Ever since I was elected, I have been working constantly with ministers to deport these Rochdale grooming gang ringleaders to Pakistan,” he said.
By clicking the 'Subscribe’, you agree to receive our newsletter, marketing communications and industry
partners/sponsors sharing promotional product information via email and print communication from Garavi Gujarat
Publications Ltd and subsidiaries. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the
unsubscribe link in our emails. We will use your email address to personalize our communications and send you
relevant offers. Your data will be stored up to 30 days after unsubscribing.
Contact us at data@amg.biz to see how we manage and store your data.
The accident took place in Jharkhand state. Visuals from the scene showed the bus’s rear portion almost entirely burnt and the vehicle badly damaged.
AT LEAST 18 people died in eastern India on Tuesday when a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims collided with a truck transporting cooking gas cylinders, officials said.
The accident took place in Jharkhand state. Visuals from the scene showed the bus’s rear portion almost entirely burnt and the vehicle badly damaged.
Local lawmaker Nishikant Dubey said the pilgrims were on their way to a Hindu shrine to celebrate the sacred month of Shravan, which coincides with the monsoon season in the subcontinent.
"18 devotees lost their lives due to a bus and truck accident," Dubey said on social media.
Officials said the pilgrims were carrying holy water from the Ganges to offer to Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction.
Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the families of those killed.
"The road accident in Jharkhand's Deoghar is extremely tragic," his office said on social media. "Deepest condolences to the families of the devotees who lost their lives."
According to official data, tens of thousands of people die in road accidents in India each year. Transport minister Nitin Gadkari told parliament that more than 172,000 people were killed in road crashes in 2023.
In November last year, a bus plunged into a deep Himalayan ravine in Uttarakhand, killing at least 36 passengers and injuring several others.
(With inputs from agencies)
Keep ReadingShow less
London and Midlands expected to reach highs of 28–30°C
Temperatures forecast to peak at 31°C in parts of southern England from 5–7 August
Cities including Bournemouth, Southampton, and Bath to see hottest conditions
London and Midlands expected to reach highs of 28–30°C
Cardiff and Swansea could see temperatures rise to 27°C
Met Office predicts potential for hot spells in southern and eastern regions into mid-August
Heatwave expected to hit early August
Southern and central parts of England are expected to experience a sharp rise in temperatures from 5 August, with forecasters predicting a brief but intense heatwave. According to WXCHARTS weather maps, temperatures could climb as high as 31°C in several areas.
The forecast comes after a cooler, unsettled end to July, with much of the UK experiencing overcast skies and lower-than-average temperatures.
Hottest conditions forecast in southern England
Cities such as Southampton, Bournemouth, Bath, and Bristol are likely to experience the highest temperatures, reaching up to 31°C. Nearby counties including Dorset, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire are also expected to see highs around 30°C.
London and parts of Surrey may approach similar levels, while regions across the East and West Midlands are forecast to see temperatures rise to around 28°C.
Elsewhere, Wales is also expected to warm up, with Cardiff and Swansea predicted to reach 27°C.
Met Office outlook for August: Hot spells possible
The Met Office’s long-range forecast, covering 9 to 23 August, indicates that while changeable weather may continue at times due to westerly winds, more settled and sunnier spells are expected, particularly in the south.
“These [settled spells] bring more prolonged dry and sunny weather, especially across the south of the country but potentially spreading to all areas at times,” the forecast reads. “Temperatures will likely be near or above average overall. There is a chance of some very warm or hot spells, especially in the south and east.”
This anticipated spell of heat marks a potential return to summer conditions after a notably wet and unsettled July in many parts of the UK.
Keep ReadingShow less
Shah said all three were Pakistani nationals and identified two of them as members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a UN-designated terrorist group based in Pakistan .
INDIAN security forces have killed three Pakistani terrorists involved in an April attack on Hindu tourists in Indian Kashmir that triggered a military conflict between India and Pakistan, home minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday.
The terrorists were killed in a military operation on Monday (28), more than three months after 26 people were shot dead in the resort town of Baisaran on April 22.
"I want to tell the parliament (that) those who attacked in Baisaran were three terrorists and all three have been killed," Shah said.
He said all three were Pakistani nationals and identified two of them as members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a UN-designated terrorist group based in Pakistan.
"Indian security agencies have detailed evidence of their involvement in the attack," he told the lower house of parliament.
The army said the operation took place in the mountains of Dachigam, around 30 kilometres from Srinagar.
In April, gunmen emerged from forests near Pahalgam and opened fire on crowds of visitors with automatic weapons.
All those killed were residents of India except one man from Nepal. Survivors said the attackers separated men from women and children and ordered some of the men to recite the Muslim declaration of faith.
India accused Pakistan of backing the attackers, which Islamabad denied, leading to a four-day conflict in May that killed more than 70 people on both sides.
Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since 1947, and both countries claim the region in full.
Shah said a security meeting was held immediately after the April attack, where it was decided the attackers should not be "allowed to leave the country and return to Pakistan".
Investigators used eyewitness accounts and forensic evidence to confirm the rifles found on the terrorists were the same weapons used in the attack.
"It was confirmed that these three rifles were involved in killing of our innocent civilians," Shah said.
A group called The Resistance Front (TRF) initially claimed responsibility for the April attack but later withdrew its claim. Earlier this month, the United States described TRF as a "front and proxy" of Lashkar-e-Taiba.
(With inputs from agencies)
Keep ReadingShow less
During Trump’s first term, Khan opposed the US travel ban on people from certain Muslim countries, which led to a war of words. (Photo: Getty Images)
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump criticised London mayor Sadiq Khan again during a news conference in Scotland alongside British prime minister Keir Starmer, who described Khan as his "friend".
When asked by a reporter if he planned to visit London in September during his state visit, Trump said yes but added: "I'm not a fan of your mayor. I think he's done a terrible job."
"The mayor of London... a nasty person," he said.
Starmer responded: "He's a friend of mine, actually."
Trump repeated his criticism, saying: "I think he's done a terrible job. But I would certainly visit London."
Trump and Khan have had a history of public disputes. In January, on the eve of Trump’s return to the White House, Khan wrote an article warning of western "reactionary populists" as a "century-defining challenge" for progressives.
During Trump’s first term, Khan opposed the US travel ban on people from certain Muslim countries, which led to a war of words. Trump accused Khan, the first Muslim mayor of a Western capital when elected in 2016, of doing a "very bad job on terrorism" and called him a "stone cold loser" and "very dumb".
In a podcast recorded before Trump’s re-election on November 5, 2024, Khan accused Trump of targeting him because of his ethnicity and religion, saying: "He's come for me because of, let's be frank, my ethnicity and my religion."
However, in an interview with AFP in December, Khan said the American people had "spoken loudly and clearly" and added, "we have got to respect the outcome of the presidential elections".
Later on Monday, a spokesperson for Khan said the mayor was "delighted that president Trump wants to come to the greatest city in the world".
"He'd see how our diversity makes us stronger not weaker; richer, not poorer," the spokesperson added.