After creating the “absorbing and provocative” Version 2.0 and the “eminently lovable” Letters, Kashyap Raja returns to London with his new play Earth – A children’s story for adults at the Bridewell theatre for a short run in February 2023. In this new piece, Raja creates a mesmerising and transcendent world in which Earth takes a human form and tells the story of a boy, Drop.
“Issues of consent, ownership, and entitlement are rife in our current political climate. Kashyap Raja brilliantly brings artificial intelligence to the same discussion” Reviewsgate on Version 2.0.
Drop, a little boy, dreams of becoming an astronaut. Every night he looks at the sky and wonders about the
existence of stars and planets. Earth takes a human form and quenches his curiosity by narrating stories about the Sun, the moon and the little stars shining in the sky.
They begin to form a transcendent bond, but a natural calamity wrecks their lives and compels drop to begin a voyage to an alternate planet. Earth warns him that no one in the Universe will accept humans and their only hope is to save Earth. Bewildered by the challenges of finding a new world and confused by the existential crisis of nature, Drop finally asks Earth why does she only talk to him?
This play is reminiscent of the mystical and curious connection we have with nature as a child and why it’s important to nurture this connection as we grow up. Hence, a children’s story for adults.
“Letters is a necessary watch as a means of exploring the building of a bond”. Theatre Full Stop on Letters.
Kashyap Raja is an Indian playwright. He has done his masters in writing from City, University of London and has been writing, directing and producing plays in London for the past five years, including at the Edinburgh and Camden Fringe festivals. In 2018, his play Version 2.0 was performed in the Leicester Square Theatre. His last play Letters was performed at the Network Theatre and then made its return at Jack Brockley Studio Theatre.
Vanessa is trained in the Meissner and Chubbuck techniques and has taken part in micro-theatre pieces like an adaptation of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane and has also collaborated in short films like Catch Much Match and Roots. Her most recent work in theatre was in the new play Shards, which was part of the Camden Fringe Festival in 2019. The play received critical acclaim and Vanessa was particularly praised for her performance. Tim is an acting graduate of Birmingham University. He is currently employed as an actor-interpreter by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and is currently on a tour of Macbeth with them. He regularly performs in theatre, has done numerous short films and has recently completed a feature film called Clay’s Redemption.
Title Earth – A Children’s Story for Adults
Director and Playwright Kashyap Raja
Stage Management Meghan Bartual Smyth
Charlie Heptinstall
Lights/Sound Design Carey Chomsoonthorn
Cast Vanessa Toral Diaz & Tim Atkinson
Running Time 90 mins
Ticket Prices £15, £12
BOOK TICKETS HERE
Earth – A Children’s Story for Adults
Bridewell Theatre, January 31st to 4th February 2023
Press Night: 1st February, 2023, 7.30pm