Women Centre Stage

by Poile Sengupta

This selection of six contemporary plays explores a wide range of issues ― familial, social, mythological, political ― with women centre stage. The plays are distinct from each other in structure, theme and style, but are bound together by a common thread ― the position and role of women in family, social and political systems. Issues such as sexual abuse, in-law relationships, the trauma of ageing, the struggle for women’s empowerment, love and passion, desire and revenge, and dynastic politics are discussed through the varying perspectives of a number of characters, bringing an immediacy and urgency to the subjects under consideration. What is significant about the plays is that they highlight the manipulation of the English language resulting with the introduction of an ‘Indian’ syntax. Multilingualism is used to offset the so-called ‘westernisation’ that has been the by-product of the systematic globalisation of ‘third world’ countries. While the plays are meant to be staged, they are also very reader-friendly and will be entertaining as well as educative for the general reader.

364 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2009

About the author

POILE SENGUPTA



I am a novelist, poet, playwright and short fiction writer, for both children and adults.

I began writing for children when I was in college. In 1968, I began “A Letter to You”, a humour column for the children’s magazine, Children’s World, which ran for nearly three decades. I have regularly written for the children's magazine Target and columns for children in Deccan Herald, Bangalore, The Times of India, Bangalore, and Midday, Mumbai. My recent fiction for children includes "Role Call" and "Role Call Again", 2003, by Rupa and Co., "Vikram and Vetal", 2005, and "Vikramaditya’s Throne", 2007, from Puffin. My stories have also been included in several anthologies, among them the iconic "The Puffin Treasury of Modern Indian Stories". "Role Call" has been translated and published in Bhasa Indonesia and "Vikram and Vetal" in French.

I also have a book of six plays published by Routledge – "Women Centre Stage", 2010. My first play Mangalam won a special award at The Hindu-Madras Players playscripts competition in 1993. Keats was a Tuber was shortlisted and received a special mention at the 1996 British Council International New Playwriting Competition. Samara’s Song was one of three plays in the final shortlist of The Hindu Metroplus Playscripts Competition, 2008. In 1999-2000, I received a Senior Fellowship for Literature of the Department of Culture, Government of India, to write plays for children. A set of seven one Act plays for children – "Good Heavens!" – was published by Puffin in 2006.

My short story Ammulu was shortlisted for the 2012 Commonwealth short story prize. It has now been published in "The Best Asian Short Stories" by Kitaab.

My first novel for adults Inga was published in October 2014 and has received critical acclaim. The DNA Mumbai called it “Booker worthy”!

My picture book "Four" was published by Tulika Publishers in 2018.

I have been on the Governing Body of the National School of Drama, India, and several times on the jury of the Trinity College international playwriting competition for children. I have acted in several plays and in the award winning films "The Outhouse" and "Shaitan".

Reviews

[Sheela]

smart introduction and wide range of playwriting engaged me thoroughly throughout. highly recommended for those interested in Indian feminist theater