THE EMPRESS

About the show

On the boat from India, Rani, an ayah (nursemaid) befriends a lascar (sailor), an Indian politician and a royal servant destined to serve the Queen. Full of hopes and dreams of what lies ahead, they each embark on an extraordinary journey. Will their expectations come true or will they have to forge a different path in their new country? Spanning 13 years over the ‘Golden Era’ of Empire, this story blends the experiences of Indian ayahs and lascars who worked on the ships carrying trade goods, alongside the first Indian politician to be elected as a Member of Parliament. This epic story reveals how socially diverse the Asian presence was in nineteenth century Britain. Directed by Pooja Ghai, Artistic Director of Tamasha, Tanika Gupta’s The Empress took audiences from the rugged gangways of Tilbury docks to the grandeur of Queen Victoria’s Palace, whilst unveiling the long and embedded culture of British Asian history. The Empress played at the Swan Theatre from July to November 2023, transferring to London’s Lyric Hammersmith Theatre from 4 to 28 October. This new play by Tanika Gupta was first staged in the Swan Theatre in 2013.