Fans of the film Monsoon Wedding should rush to the Watermans Arts Centre to see the Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah wake London up with Ismat Apa Ke Naam. If this leaves you none the wiser, Ismat Apa was a feminist in India before feminism had been invented, who penned an acerbic, funny and thought-provoking body of work investigating issues such as childbirth and marriage. The performance focuses on three of her short stories which delve into such subjects with wit and sensitivity.
Watermans reopens after a closure of 15 months with this production. Having already promoted Asian arts for a decade, its director, Jan Lennox, has announced that the centre is keener than ever to cater to the fast-growing Asian audiences in London. The first few months will also feature Bollywood In Love, an Indian film-poster exhibition, and comedians such as the Funjabis.
