This is just the beginning
The Fifth Cup was a sell-out show. On On Thursday 13th December we performed The Fifth Cup in front of a packed auditorium (350 people) at The Drum in Birmingham. The show went well, all the actors performed their hearts out like I knew they would. I’m so proud of all the cast and crew.
We got really positive feedback from the audience. 70% of them stayed for the Q & A session at the end of the show, I was surprised and touched. I’m glad we did that Q & A session because it’s great to know what the audience think. Their encouragment inspires us to write more plays and take The Fifth Cup forward. Lots of people have been saying that the play made them go home and discuss the issue of caste discrimination with their friends and families. That alone makes me feel that we were successful.
I’ve been on a personal journey writing and producing The Fifth Cup. The past few weeks have been some of the most challenging weeks in my life. I’ve grown up a lot, I’ve learnt something from every single person working on this production. I’ve met some talented and very lovely people and made some friends for life. The main thing that i’ve learnt is that there’s more to people to meet the eye, you just have to take the time to find out (like the MADMAN!!).
Even though the show is over, this is just the beginning for Caste Away Arts and The Fifth Cup. We hope to tour The Fifth Cup next year and we’ll definitely be back in The Drum around summertime. We’re also going to get cracking on writing new plays. WAHHHHH!!! we’ve got so much to do! I’m pretty run-down at the moment and am going to be chilling hard the next few days, but after that it’s back to the drawing board. Watch this space!! ;o)
December 17th, 2007 at 4:57 am
[…] This is just the beginning By Rena Dipti Lots of people have been saying that the play made them go home and discuss the issue of caste discrimination with their friends and families. That alone makes me feel that we were successful. I’ve been on a personal journey writing and … Caste Away Arts - http://casteawayarts.com/blog […]
December 21st, 2007 at 9:42 am
[…] More recently Caste Away Arts staged a run of their play ‘The Fifth Cup’, a poignant insight into caste discrimination within the British-Asian community, at the Drum in Birmingham. MixTogether was unable to reach the Birmingham run, but hopes to catch it on tour. […]
December 21st, 2007 at 9:50 am
The above is very true- your play was brought up on our forum and generated a lot of interest among our members.
I would really like to see it, and if you need any help getting it to London please give me a shout as I know some people who could help (I’m sure you’re fine!)
More broadly I would like to make a meaningful link between Caste Away and MixTogether, and would like to put this blog on our blogroll if that’s ok?!
Please do get in touch.
Ashley
December 27th, 2007 at 10:17 am
Hi Ashley,
Thanks for getting in touch. Yes, please do put a link to this blog on you website. We are definitely looking at taking The Fifth Cup to London in 2008 so may contact you about it at some point. Thanks for the encouragement.
Rena
December 27th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
Thanks Rena,
I have sent an email to info@…
Hope to speak soon.
February 1st, 2008 at 9:36 am
Reena Bhatoa
Well done for the fantastic work you are doing to eradicate casteism. You’re a brilliant performer and I enjoyed the play.
But when I thought about it I realised that I had heard your voice before on BBC Radio 4 in a discussion on caste.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/living/caste.shtml
You came on as a Gujarati Dalit and also being one I was so touched by your account of the discrimination that you and your husband had faced when you had the shop. But then I realised that you were using Punjabi names for Dalits instead of Gujerati ones and you didn’t sound Guju to me.
You are a very good actor and you certainly had me fooled listening to that broadcast. The only problem is that you are going to be exposed for what you have done and some of the lies that you are peddling. Just be honest and admit what you have done as I’m actually on your side. I know that Rena from castewatchuk is working with the BBC and the way that you are all trying to push a hidden agenda. Don’t worry I’m in the media too and they would love to expose you and the well known scams in the BBC! Keep your eyes peeled on the papers and news programmes.
Carry on the good work, but with honesty.
Ta ta
February 22nd, 2008 at 1:27 pm
i would love to see this play in the future it seems really interesting. i love to hear that people from the asian culture are doing something good for society. I loved reading your biograpghy reena bathoa. The whole team seem really nice. I would love to work on projects like this at some point. may be when i leave college i will be as brave as caste away arts. i wanted to go into dancing but my culture is very strict and i wish i was as brave your team.
November 10th, 2008 at 1:46 am
Saw the play on 8th of november in leicester and it was fab!!! Straight to the point and not only that my niece pam was played a part and did a great job! Keep up the good work and reach out to many people as possible…We are sikhs we breath the same and we bleed the same!
November 10th, 2008 at 1:48 am
Saw the play on 8th of november in leicester and it was fab!!! Straight to the point and not only that my niece pam played a part and did a great job! Keep up the good work and reach out to many people as possible…We are sikhs we breath the same and we bleed the same!