ABOUT US

Caste Away Arts is a Midland’s-based theatre company led by Rena Dipti Annobil, Reena Jaisiah and Ravina Rai.

It all started in 2004 when Rena and Reena joined the charity CasteWatchUK which aims to eliminate caste discrimination in the UK. The two Re(e)na's wanted to help with this good cause and decided to use their skills and experience in writing and drama to write a play about caste discrimination which was based on true life experiences of people that they met. They finished the play (The Fifth Cup) in early 2006 and decided to produce it themselves and create a platform for future projects. And thus Caste Away Arts was born.

After working themselves to the bone for a while, Rena and Reena joined forces with the amazingly efficient and well organised Ravina Rai in 2007. The small, but perfectly formed, circle of three went to work producing their debut production The Fifth Cup which sold out at The Drum theatre in Birmingham in December 2007.

Caste Away Arts are currently working on a UK tour for The Fifth Cup, new material and several artistic collaborations. They remain passionate about using theatre to break down barriers and eliminate discrimination. They are commited to producing high quality entertainment with a strong social message.

Caste Away Arts is the artistic arm of charity CasteWatchUK and is supported by them in all their endeavours.

Rena Dipti Annobil is one of Caste Away Arts’ Co-Founders and Artistic Directors. She co-wrote and co-directed The Fifth Cup with Reena Jaisiah. Rena graduated from Aston University in 2001 with BSc (Hons) in Managerial and Administrative Studies. Whilst at university Rena trained in Indian Classical and Contemporary Dance, focusing on the ancient dance form Bharata Natyam, and performed at various theatres around the Midlands as part of the Coventry based Mrittika Arts Dance Company. Rena has worked in broadcasting for six years; her experience includes producing live radio programmes at the BBC, TV presenting, and narrating BBC Radio 7's Sony Award winning interactive story, The Chain Gang, in 2007. Passionate about poetry, music, dance and drama, Rena has carried out several performance workshops for children and teenagers over the last few years. She turned her hand to playwriting in 2004 and has several other projects in the pipeline for Caste Away Arts.

A granddaughter of two Punjabi late Caste Discrimination Campaigners! I was born from a 37 hour labour (sorry Mum) into a struggling working class family in Coventry. There were no silver spoons in my mouth. I grew up with severe learning difficulties and first spelt name at the age of 8 while others were writing reams! I was so slow, I could barely talk and most of the world gave up on me. But inside there was something in my dying to burst out, but my lack of confidence buried the real me so I hid from my dreams. But as a non-sheltered child I experienced the world and had fun, most of it mischief. Here is one of my adventures. Back in 1984 me and my Cousin Bally thought ‘’hey lets go and see Wham, there in London not that far where Big Ben is (I said pointing to Coventry Cathedral) we walked along Richmond Street and hit a brick wall we looked back and the whole family came running after us with a rolling pin, a stick and a old chuppal (sandal) but my adventures didn’t stop there....

After a long depressing slog at school, I predictably failed my GCSE’s and my teachers told me I wasn’t going to get anywhere in life, in fact one said I would fail! I took that as the biggest challenge of my life and approached Mr Rattinghan who saw the determination in this little girl and allowed me to learn. I pushed my self and believed in me for a change and I passed with a struggle from GCSE U to B grade at A' level. If anyone is listening ''If I can do it so can you''!. Sadly Mr Rattighan died and as he died I was born. My Grandfather also said on his death bed in 1999 “you’ll get a degree’’ I didn’t agree but went on a mission to Uni and studied Sociology . It was cool, just add an ‘ism’ after everything. I was moving!. I finally got my degree ironically on the five year (5 is the magic number) death anniversary of my Grandfathers Mr Dalip Singh -Gosh i should write a book.

After saving a bit of hard earned dough, me and my soul mate brought two well established business in the inner cities of Coventry, an off-licence and a video shop and it was in that very shop i completed my MA in Social Research at the University of Birmingham (but I completed a degree in LIFE first) It was here I pioneered research into that thing most of us hate to talk about-CASTE DISCRIMINATION! Caste Away Arts was born then. A theatre company based of real life!

Today I work as a Drama facilitator/ Instructor and have delivered drama therapy, fun packed liberating workshops to all ages, races and faces. I am life coach and love empowering people with my work and experience. I spent some time working at Sampad and did some evaluation and research on major mental health project -Vikash and various youth projects. I have delivered Citizen workshops at the Coventry City Football Club partnership centre and through out schools and colleges in the country. In fact I taught at a school and met the very teacher that said I would fail-he nearlly tripped when he saw me, but life's too short to bear grudges, I owe it to people like him- Thank you. I love my job though once upon a time I was just like some of you dreaming of this amazing break, now today I am the co-founder of Caste Away Arts, co writer and director of THE FIFTH CUP. An angel once told me that ''every failure is a milestone to success', its true but I will never forget where I started-from the bottom.

In my very little spare time I write poetry, have performed on BBC radio and write for a online magazine. I love photography and interviewing interesting people. I have been belly dancing for some time and training in GO-KAN-RYU Karate. I love enjoying life and life is what you make of it and the struggle make it all better in THE END :)

Ravina Rai graduated from the University of Leicester in 2005 with a BA (Hons) in English, and an MBA in Management Studies in 2006. She currently manages a property investment company. Nevertheless all her spare time is devoted to the success of ‘The Fifth Cup’ and making Caste Away Arts a nationally recognised production company. Ravina is a regular theatregoer as well as a Shakespearean enthusiast. It was only natural for her to join Caste Away Arts in its endeavour to ‘eliminate caste discrimination through theatre’. As Assistant Producer/Stage Manager for Caste Away Arts, Ravina oversees all business aspects to The Fifth Cup and helps with the logistics of the production. She is currently working hard to generate media attention by liaising with local and leading media publications. She is also developing links with other theatre companies and community leaders to take ‘The Fifth Cup’ on a national tour sometime next year. Ravina hopes that ‘The Fifth Cup’ will educate the younger generation to look outside of the box and accept caste for what it is, ‘just a job title’. She also feels it is important to teach the younger generation that “Caste should not and does not shape your identity; instead your life experiences should do that”.
Ravina says:
there is no doubt that this project is time consuming, but the challenge, experience and the chemistry in our team, makes it all the worthwhile. We have a great team behind us, which is oozing with confidence and determination to ensure The Fifth Cup is a success! I am so glad to be given this opportunity to be involved in this pioneering project. To see change, you have to be the face of change, hence why I got involved.

Sandeep Kumar (aka Bitty) initially joined Caste Away Arts as an understudy. He was spotted at a graduate theatre show in Birmingham's Crescent Theatre and contacted after the show by our Artistic team. Since joining The Fifth Cup UK TOUR 2008, Sandeep has proved himself as a loyal, passionate and enthusiastic. His involvement has progressed to him being recruited as Production Assistant. Sandeep is an asset to the force and is involved heavily with Stage management, leading vocal warm ups to professional actors, set construction, marketing as well as acting at the tender age of 19-so watch this space! Sandeep has completed B-TECH National Diploma in Performing Arts. He has a passion for music and singing and achieved a distinction level at The birmingham school of Acting, where he was in the musical choir. Sandeep has a interest for theatre that makes a difference to society and will be studying further for a HND in performing arts Later this year. Sandeep says since joining caste away arts ''a new chapter in my life has opened, The Fifth Cup is a brilliant play and the team are fantastic and they have developed me so much and that's what they are about - making a better change to people and the community''.