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Shabana heads for London's National Theatre

Lata Khubchandani

Renowned actress and MP, Shabana Azmi, has done it again. She is going to act in a play to be staged at the National Theatre in London. "This is an extremely prestigous matter," says Shabana, "because it's the first time that an Asian play is being staged at this theatre."

The play, called The Waiting Room, is an original work written by playwright Tanika Gupta. Shabana is obviously thrilled with this latest honour because the National Theatre is considered to be a British bastion with stalwarts like Sir Lawrence Olivier having been artistic directors here.

It may be mentioned here that our own Naseeruddin Shah had done a play here (Cyrano) sometime back. But it was different -- in the sense that it was staged at the theatre by a private company, Tata Arts.

The artistic director of The Waiting Room is Trevor Nunn, director of long-running plays such as Phantom Of The Opera. "The National, in a proactive move, has recognised that the term British now can no longer be exclusive of the Asian community. The British can no longer be white-skinned, blue-eyed people. Asians are so much a part of the social fabric of Britain that British theatre must also include Asian productions," says Shabana.

According to the firebrand actress, this change of attitude is marvellous and most welcome. "If you look at Hollywood, Asians are completely invisible in theatre and in films. Now, Asians are insisting on colour-blind casting the world over. They are asking, 'why is nationality an issue, why are all the roles always assumed to be for the Whites?' So, I think it is a proactive measure," she states.

The Waiting Room is to be performed at the National's Cottesloe Theatre, which is reputed to be extremely elitist. Shabana begins rehearsing from April 24 and the first performance will be held on May 25. The play will then run through all of June.

The rest of the cast is London-based. Shabana plays a Bengali woman who came to London 25 years back. The play opens after her death. It's an exploration of who she is by various members of her family -- her husband, son, daughter and husband's friend. She seemed like a different person to each of these people.

Though Shabana has done a couple of plays -- such as Tumhari Amrita) on home ground and Laura for the Singapore Repertory Theatre -- this is different. "I'm not nervous about this play, I'm petrified!" says the actress. "The Singapore production was an example of colour-blind casting, with actors from different parts of the world in it. This time, it is very daunting. I have these visions where I think they are calling me to say 'very sorry, we had so many expectations, but it's not working.' I keep thinking I've forgotten my lines and I'm taking all these fears and dangers along with me!"

"I think," continues Shabana, "it's essential for an actor to take on things one is not entirely safe with. Because that's the way you break boundaries. It's far too easy to continue doing things you know you can do. Ten years ago, I went to London to do Madame Souzatska with Shirley Maclaine. Nobody knew who I was, and I knew that the only way they would pay me any attention was if I could prove my worth, if I could do my part well. So you have to keep pushing your own parameters. I'm going there completely conscious that I might fail, but I'm going to do it nevertheless."