Behud (Beyond Belief) - Soho Theatre
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
GURPREET Kaur Bhatti’s Behud (Beyond Belief) receives its world premiere at Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre before transferring to London’s Soho Theatre, where it runs from April 15 (previews from April 13) to May 8, 2010.
In December 2004, Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti’s play Behzti rocked the world of theatre when it was sensationally cancelled after protests in Birmingham, forcing the playwright into hiding. The closure of the play sparked a vehement debate about offence and freedom of speech.
In Behud, a playwright attempts to make sense of the past by visiting the darkest corners of her imagination.
Set amidst the theatre establishment, politicians and protesters, Behud is a playful and provocative response to the events surrounding Behzti, and the compelling story of an artist struggling to be heard.
In her last outing as Artistic Director of Soho Theatre, Lisa Goldman directs a cast that includes Lucy Briers, Priyanga Burford, Ravin J Ganatra, Shiv Grewal, John Hodgkinson, Chetna Pandya and Avin Shah.
As well as Behzti, Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti’s writing credits for theatre include Behsharam (Soho Theatre and Birmingham Rep), Londonee (Stratford East) and Airport 2000 – Asians in Transit (Leicester Haymarket/Riverside Studios). Her television credits include Honour, Stitched Up, Eastenders, Lipstick and Nails and Dead Meat.
In 2005, Behzti won the prestigious Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for the best English language play written by a woman. Following the controversy, the play was translated into French as part of a project with the National Theatre in 2006 and toured a sell-out run in both France and Belgium.
Behud is designed by Hannah Clark, with lighting by Richard G Jones and sound by Matt McKenzie.
Behud is co-produced by Soho Theatre and Belgrade Theatre, where it runs from March 27 to April 10, 2010.