True stories told by Shobu Kapoor, Shobna Gulati, Shyama Perera
and Sajeela Kershi
UK Tour
May 11, Oldham Coliseum
May 20, Southbank Centre, Royal Festival Hall, London
May 23, Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton
June 3, Cast in Doncaster
‘Here’s to strong women, may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them’
Mother Tongues from Farther Lands is a spoken word theatre show full of fascinating, fearless and funny stories from South Asian women – they are the backbone of their culture, but a group whose voices are too often forgotten.
“We had a British life outside but the moment we got home it was completely different, I was Asian, our tiny home felt safe, it was full of people, people and love.” From the Mother Tongues and Farther Lands workshop in Oldham, a group of mostly Pakistani Muslim women aged between 20-45 years old who meet regularly as part of a wellbeing group for vulnerable women.
Through a series of lively regional workshops, Sajeela Kershi (comedian, writer and creator of the multi-award-winning Immigrant Diaries) ‘fused’ professional performers Shobu Kapoor (EastEnders, Citizen Khan), Shobna Gulati (Dinnerlandies, Coronation Street) and journalist Shyama Perera together with non performers from Britain’s South Asian communities, some from extremely vulnerable and challenged backgrounds. 
“After my husband left me, I worked hard my entire life to give my son a private education, I wanted him to have the education I was denied.” From the Mother Tongues and Farther Lands workshop in London, a group of mostly older Sikh and Hindu Kenyan Indian women who meet once a week to chat, eat, food, sing, dance, practise yoga and celebrate special occasions together.
The result of this unique creative exchange is an absorbing collection of moving and entertaining stories that address the gender imbalance experienced in South Asian communities. The devised monologues show the strength, tenacity, bravery and humour at the core of these diverse and ‘kick ass’ women!
“I came here as an Asylum seeker as my life was in danger, I would have been killed back home for becoming an actress.” From the Mother Tongues and Farther Lands workshop in Doncaster, mostly asylum seekers from Sikh, Hindu and Muslim backgrounds aged between 20 and 45 years old.
“Telling another person’s story puts a huge responsibility on my shoulders” says Shobu Kapoor. “I have to honour them but also try and be as three-dimensional as possible, which means shedding light also on the shadow side of someone’s personality. Hopefully, an emotionally rounded portrayal draws the audience in in a way that a totally factual rendering may not, and the people whose stories I’m telling feel that they and their experiences have been truthfully told.”
Shobna Gulati adds: “It’s been a wonderful opportunity to work within a female-led team of diverse artists where we can engage with, recognise and celebrate the contributions of women from our communities from all backgrounds in and outside of London; with a view to share our experiences of our life journeys, finding a collective joy, freedom to release and solace.”
Mother Tongues from Farther Lands is a commission by Alchemy On Tour partnership; Southbank Centre, Black Country Touring, Cast in Doncaster and Oldham Coliseum. It is generously supported by Arts Council England.
