This month, Q Theatre Productions is bringing the touching, informative, Edinburgh Guide winning play HeLa to India. The play is inspired by The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot and talks about ethics, equality and ownership of our own DNA. Initially staged at Edinburgh Fringe 2013, it’s going to be shown in the city next weekend.
Quasar Thakore Padamsee, artistic director of QTP tells us, “QTP believes in telling stories that need to be told, through productions that are designed immaculately and leave an impact on the audience. While watching HeLa at the Edinburgh Fringe 2013, we realised that here was a production that shared our values about what theatre can and should be. HeLa talks incisively about individual rights, discrimination and ethics — pertinent issues that have dominated Indian headlines recently. The play introduces us to all these themes in a powerful and moving way. We believe that taking this play across three cities in India is the perfect way to begin our 15th anniversary celebrations. This is the first step of our long-term commitment to regularly bring quality international work to Indian audiences.”
The play is based on a true story about Henrietta Lacks (a cancer patient) in 1951, telling the story of how she walked to the coloured section of the John Hopkins Hospital and how her doctor (Dr. George Grey) took a cell sample from her, without her permission. This solo show by Adura Onashile takes as its inspiration the extraordinary life of the HeLa cell line (the first line of human cells to survive in vitro), a scientific discovery that was the result of this cell stealing.
There will also be workshops and interactions as part of their tour around the country. This one is definitely worth a watch.
When February 15, 16 and 17
Where Sitara Studio, Dadar (W)
Contact www.bookmyshow.com
Tickets Rs 300