Memories of Partition, Royal Exchange Theatre, 2017 (New Writing)

Seven decades on, the memories of the partition of India and Pakistan are still strong. Memories of Partition brought the voices of silent experiences, stories and hidden histories of Manchester’s South Asian communities to the stage in 10 monologues from some of the North’s most exciting playwrights.

Ten South Asian writers and spoken word artists were commissioned by the Royal Exchange Theatre to create new monologues which revealed the untold stories of the significance of Partition and the impact still felt today. These monologues were inspired by the material that has emerged from the Memories of Partition Oral History project at Manchester Museum. The pieces were directed by up and coming Manchester based directors. Amy directed two pieces:

part, it part not focused on the experiences of a young, British, muslim woman, who has inherited a halal butcher’s shop due to her husband’s death and whose dual parentage, part Indian, part Pakistani creates a complex identity to negotiate and practical barriers to movement at seemingly every turn.

iDENT was an interactive piece in which audience participation explored the possible outcomes of a future in which the A.I. are in control. The last remaining humans are forced to choose which pack they will be loyal to. Will genetic inheritance force this loyalty or are there other, stronger bonds?

Both pieces were performed in the Royal Exchange Great Hall and main house, as well as in the following community venues across Greater Manchester: Manchester Museum, Indian Senior Citizens Centre, Longsight Library and Learning Centre, The Welcome Centre and Abraham Moss Community School.

Creative Team & Cast

part it, part not

Writer: Afshan D’souza-Lodhi

Director: Amy Hailwood

Performer: Shakera Louise Ahad

iDENT

Writer: Ravi Thornton

Director: Amy Hailwood

Performer: Jennifer Kay

MoP Dramaturg: Suzanne Bell

MoP Producer: Grace Ng-Ralph

MoP Stage Management: Lizzie Rodipe

Memories of Partition

“A quality of hybridity is fundamental to my perspective and practice.”
A young Asian woman in pale pink salwar chamise and headscarf sits at the top of a metal staircase holding a butcher's cleaver and a knife sharpener as she sharpens the cleaver. She is lit with bold pink and blue light.
A young Asian woman in pale pink salwar chamise and headscarf stands at the top of a metal staircase holding a butcher's cleaver and a knife sharpener aloft. She is lit with pale blue light.
A young Asian woman in pale pink salwar chamise and headscarf sits at the top of a metal staircase holding a butcher's cleaver and a knife sharpener as she sharpens the cleaver and smiles broadly. She is lit with bold pink light.
A young Asian woman is seated in a chair. She looks sideways with concern and anticipation at a young white woman who is circling her with intent and has her left hand on the top of the chair.
A young white woman with very short hair holds a small vial aloft in her right hand. In the background, a seated young Asian woman looks at her with uncertainty.
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