The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) and London’s Soho Theatre co-present Patchwork Ensemble’s reprised version of their show – The Gentlemen’s Club to audiences across two continents.
This partnership marks a milestone in international theatre, highlighting the dynamic exchange between two of the art centres from India and the UK. The Gentlemen’s Club, which presented at the NCPA in 2015 as a part of the Centrestage Festival, will be set for its second run from the 27th and the 28th of September in the Experimental Theatre.
Following its run in India, the production will make its way to London, where it will be showcased at Soho Theatre, marking its international debut.
The show invites the audiences to enter Mumbai’s underground club scene and follow the lives of the city’s drag kings, headlined by the enigmatic Rocky, also known as Shammsher. Rocky’s act is a tribute to Shammi Kapoor and the golden era of Hindi cinema.
Alongside Rocky, an ensemble of women embraces the art of drag, delivering a cabaret-style performance that transports you to a gritty, hidden world where you can be anyone you desire. Featuring a mix of dance, music, and projection, this show unfolds an narrative celebrating artists and their exploration of masculinity.
Bruce Guthrie, Head, Theatre and Films, NCPA, said, “The collaboration represents a unique opportunity for the NCPA to expand its international reach and for Soho Theatre to engage with the growing thespian community in India. Through this partnership, we aim to elevate the local theatrical experiences and celebrate the mutual love for arts between the two thriving cities of Mumbai and London.
“The Gentlemen’s Club is a playful, yet powerful presentation and we are certain that the audience will receive it very well. We are excited to bring it back to the NCPA yet again and expose it to the audience globally,” Guthrie said.
Pooja Sivaraman, Creative Associate at Soho Theatre, said, “Soho Theatre has been working with Indian artists for over a decade and bringing their work to audiences around the UK. Last year we achieved historic milestones by presenting Zakir Khan at the Royal Albert Hall and supporting Urooj Ashfaq’s win of ‘Best Newcomer’ at the Edinburgh Fringe. We are now carving out a similar space for Indian theatre makers and their development of new writing.
“This collaboration marks what we hope is the first of many co-presentations of theatre with the NCPA to platform stories by bold Indian voices. The Gentlemen’s Club is a joyous exploration of Indian masculinity, and we are certain it will be a hit with our audiences on Dean Street. We are so proud to facilitate the exchange of contemporary work by South Asian artists,” Sivaraman said.
