Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Stage adaptation of Life of Pi opens in New York on March 30

British Asian playwright Lolita Chakrabarti said for anyone who has read the book or seen the Ang Lee’s film, the stage adaptation will be a “totally surprisingâ€� experience

Stage adaptation of Life of Pi opens in New York on March 30

The stage adaptation of Canadian author Yann Martel's Booker-prize winning novel, Life of Pi, shines a spotlight on messages of faith, perseverance and immigration, and brings south Asian talent to the centre stage in Broadway, the team behind the production said.

Renowned British Asian playwright Lolita Chakrabarti's stage adaptation of the story of 16-year-old Indian boy Pi (Piscine) Patel - stranded in the ocean on a lifeboat with a Royal Bengal Tiger named Richard Parker - officially opens at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre in New York on March 30.


It brings together an ensemble cast of global actors as well as award-winning puppeteers who bring to life the book's other main characters - the tiger, hyena, zebra and orangutan - to life on stage.

Chakrabarti said for anyone who has read the book or seen the Ang Lee-directed film, the stage adaptation will be a “totally surprising” experience.

“Because it's a different kind of experience (compared) to a personal reading of a novel or sitting in a cinema. This requires the audience to be engaged and in the room and discovering the story with us,” Chakrabarti said.

She described the journey of bringing the book to life on stage as “long” and “thrilling” and said she hopes the audiences “travel with us and have an emotional experience that ends in hope.”

Sri Lankan actor Hiran Abeysekera plays the title role of Pi in the Broadway adaptation, while Indian-born actor Mahira Kakkar reprises the role of Pi's mother and Rajesh Bose makes his Broadway debut and plays Pi's father.

Abeysekera has won the Olivier Award, Britain's most prestigious stage honours, for his performance in Life of Pi in the West End production of the play.

He also won the best actor award at Eastern Eye’s Arts, Culture and Theatre Awards in February; the play also won the prize for best production.

With the Broadway adaptation bringing together actors from the Asian and South Asian regions on centre stage in New York, Chakrabarti said she “loves” the message this conveys.

“Because we're here, we're always here, not necessarily recognised or celebrated. I hope this is a change. The world is changing fast. This is a universal story for everybody, but in terms of representation, it is thrilling,” she said.

Director Max Webster said the show promises to be a “wonderful entertainment” with humour, emotion and surprise and at the same time “asks really important questions about life, love, faith and family and immigration and how we hold on to meaning in our lives.”

Life of Pi played at Wyndham's Theatre in London's West End where it won five Olivier Awards, including Best New Play, Best Scenic Design and Best Lighting Design.

Prior to the Broadway engagement, Life of Pi made its north American premiere at the American Repertory Theater at Harvard University.

More For You

Bhavin Bhadresa

Bhavin Bhadresa and his work

Bhavin Bhadresa: Painting heritage in gold and pop art

After two decades of teaching art, design, photography, graphics, and media production, Bhavin Bhadresa finally launched his eye-catching brand, Su Che Art, during the Covid pandemic. The British Asian artist has since received wide acclaim for his striking pop art prints that explore the relatable idiosyncrasies and traditions which have defined his multicultural upbringing.

The visual artist is now preparing to launch his most ambitious project – a new collection of limited-edition screen prints featuring real gold leaf. The cool creative also has exhibitions on the way, with vibrant new pieces, along with regular workshops where he shares his knowledge.

Keep ReadingShow less
Leeann Dass

Leeann Dass

Instagram/ leeann_411

Leeann Dass on the divine beauty of dance and cultural connection

International Dance Day on April 29 is a global celebration of how dance positively impacts lives and brings people together.

Leeann Dass has effectively used the immense power of dance to connect young people in the Caribbean to their Indian cultural roots.

Keep ReadingShow less
Everything You Need to Know About the Glastonbury 2025 Ticket Resale

The upcoming resale features a small number of tickets

Getty

Everything you need to know about the Glastonbury Festival 2025 ticket resale

For those who missed out on securing a ticket to Glastonbury Festival 2025 during the initial sale, a limited resale will take place this week. This provides a final opportunity for fans to attend one of the UK's most iconic music festivals.

What is the Glastonbury resale?

The upcoming resale features a small number of tickets that were initially purchased but not paid for in full before the payment deadline. These now become available to the public once again in two separate phases.

Keep ReadingShow less
Hotel Amba Yaalu

At Hotel Amba Yaalu, 75 women handle all roles, including tasks traditionally done by men

Getty

Sri Lanka’s women-run resort defies industry bias

A hotel on the shores of Lake Kandalama in the lush hills of central Sri Lanka opened in January with a unique selling point – its staff are exclusively women.

Hotel Amba Yaalu is designed to promote women in a tourism sector where men hold up to 90 per cent of hotel jobs.

Keep ReadingShow less
BBC Proms 2025

The BBC’s own ensembles are once again central to the festival

BBC

BBC Proms 2025 features historic overnight concert and world premieres in a summer of firsts

The BBC Proms returns in 2025 with a landmark season that redefines the world’s largest classical music festival. Spanning eight weeks from 18 July to 13 September, this year’s programme blends rich tradition with bold innovation, featuring 86 concerts across the UK and introducing new audiences to a truly global celebration of music.

One of the season’s biggest talking points is the first overnight Prom in more than 40 years. Running from 11pm to 7am, this all-night event is curated by organist Anna Lapwood and features pianist and YouTube sensation Hayato Sumino, cellist Anastasia Kobekina, and the Chapel Choir of Pembroke College, Cambridge. Norway’s boundary-pushing Barokksolistene also joins the line-up, led by violinist Bjarte Eike.

Keep ReadingShow less