The Taste of British South Asian Theatres: Aesthetics and Production offers critical analysis of eight British Asian performances, using an east-west approach of references and theories, the latter including the Rasa theory of the Natyashastra, Brecht's Gestus and semiotics, making a striking contribution to the understanding of one of the most outstanding examples of diasporic artistic activity in recent history.
With illustrations, the productions discussed are The Marriage of Figaro (Tara Arts), Curry Tales (Rasa Productions), Mr Quiver:intimate (Rajni Shah), Rafta, RaftaÉ(National Theatre), Nowhere to Belong: Tales of an Extravagant Stranger (RSC/Tara Arts), A Fine Balance (Tamasha), Deadeye (Kali Theatre) and the Gujarati play Lottery Lottery (Shivam Theatre).
ÒIn the search for new models of criticism, PatelÕs study of eight performances has advanced a subtle recipe that provides a new resource for diaspora studies.Ó
ÑGraham Ley
Emeritus Professor of Drama & Theory, University of Exeter