BASMATI BITCH

"A visually spectacular, fast-paced firecracker of a show"

BASMATI BITCH was Ankita's debut play, premiering at Q Rangatira on 11 July 2023 co-produced by Auckland Theatre Company and SquareSums&Co in association with Oriental Maidens

Photo and poster by Mark Leedom, Model Pamela Kaur Sidhu, Costume Imuy Teav, HMU Binh Minh Ha

REVIEWS

"Abrasive and wickedly funny"

Red Raven News

"Intoxicating spectacle"

Theatre Scenes

"I felt my heart in my throat during some of those fight scenes"

Rat World

"Non-stop hour and a half packed with quirky characters, fast-paced fight choreography, and witty comedy."

Debate Magazine

PLAY synopsis

When retired fighter and "merchant", Shiva, is dragged into the world of illegal MMA by bored overworked immigration advisor. Bisma, the last thing they expect is to be embroiled in the contraband black market.

But that’s exactly what happens when they end up in massive debt to basmati baron Toby, ‘The King’. After messing up a deal with the devil they have 24 hours to acquire a truckload of rice to pay him back, or else...

Set in an alternate reality where ethnic dietary staples, like rice, are banned due to crop disease and closed borders, Basmati Bitch transports us to a heightened reality of contested borders, exploited migrant workers and a crumbling empire.

A self-aware, neo-noir action-crime-comedy full of wacky fourth-wall-breaking characters, slick dance and stage combat.

Nightclubs double as fight clubs, dairies have rice bunkers and Aunties scheme away in their mahjong dens.

Strap in, it’s gonna be a wild ride.

Photo and poster by Mark Leedom, Model Pamela Kaur Sidhu, Costume Imuy Teav, HMU Binh Minh Ha

Character Teasers

“Ankita Singh is an inventive and clever new voice. Imaginatively staged in-the-round at Q Rangatira, this futuristic Pan-Asian romp of a crime caper promises a glimpse of what might be to come.”

- Jonathan Bielski - Artistic Director, ATC

MEDIA

"A history making production. The cast is all pan-Asian and playwright, Ankita Singh, was the first South Asian woman in Aotearoa to be commissioned to write a play."

- One News

Gemma-Jayde Naidoo as "Shiva" in the Basmati Bitch trailer, photo by Ankita Singh 2023

A Brief History / Behind the Scenes

The seed of BASMATI was planted while Ankita was at University and discovered her passion for Muay Thai thanks to her friend, Niniez Yasin.

The play got its first stint of development through the 2018 Oryza Playwrights Lab, produced by Sums Selvarajan and Bala Murli Shingade. It was dramaturge by Dione Joseph during this lab. BASMATI then went on to receive further development through Proudly Asian Theatre's 'Fresh of the Page', Playmarket's Te Hono program and CNZ writers grant.

This draft sat on the shelf as Ankita completed her Master's in Screenwriting. She began developing the play as a TV series in 2021.

Finally, in 2022 ATC approached Sums and Ankita to develop a final draft of the script to stage in their 2023 season. Ankita did a complete rewrite between December 2022 - May 2023 with script consultation from Andrew Bancroft, Hayden J Weal, and her very supportive partner, Calvin Sang.

Production Highlights