Porvi Fomra speaks during her stand-up comedy debut. Photo: Supplied
A multidisciplinary show from Prayas Theatre is celebrating the work of local South Asian artists.
Inspired by the stainless-steel food containers in India that hold multiple dishes, Tiffin Box brings together more than a dozen artists in a potpourri of theatre, poetry, monologue, stand-up comedy, Indian classical dance and music at Auckland's Basement Theatre.
Namrata Mankame-Shanbhag, Shekinah Jacob, Aman Bajaj and Tim Booth star in memorable performances on stage, while Marzia Solarian and Porvi Fomra deliver side-splitting stand-up routines.
Natasha Trilokekar, Narme Deva and Ahalya Sathiyaselvan appear in Aroha, a Bharatanatyam piece that explores the experience of being tauiwi in New Zealand.
Aayat Dance Co showcases a separate classical dance piece that features Kathak dancers.
Other artists include Jayshri Ratnam, Gemishka Chetty and Serena Mani performing poetry, as well as Auckland-based singer-songwriter SAYEE, Karen Plimmer of the Prayas Theatre band and musician Zorran Mendonsa.
"We had a massive show in 2023, and we were really exhausted because everyone volunteers, but we didn't want a year to go by without any stage presence," says Sananda Chatterjee, producer of Tiffin Box.
"Basement Theatre reached out and said there's a week in October available, so I sent out a call, and here we are."
Sananda Chatterjee is the producer of Tiffin Box. Photo: Supplied
Chatterjee, who moved to New Zealand from India in 2003, has been involved with Prayas Theatre since its inception in 2005.
"My parents wanted me to do something on the weekends, and Prayas was started by one of our family friends, so I kind of latched on and never looked back," she says.
Chatterjee says Prayas Theatre aims to bring English-language or translated stories from India to mainstream theatres in New Zealand.
"With India's rich cultural diversity, history and theatrical traditions that go back so long, there was so much Prayas could do," she says.
Chatterjee also notes how South Asian participation in the performing arts scene has evolved over the years.
"As the community grew, consumption has increased, which is awesome," she says. "But we are also getting more allies who come to watch because they're interested in diversifying the scene.
"I definitely see more young people becoming interested in theatre as they explore their roots, which is really interesting."
Chatterjee has worn many hats in her time with Prayas, starting out as an usher during the first season of Charandas Chor.
She eventually directed Prayas Theatre's first full-blown comedy, Love 'n Stuff, in 2016.
Chatterjee says the Tiffin Box artists have brought their own craft to the show, with Prayas Theatre supporting them structurally.
Tiffin Box brings together more than a dozen local South Asian artists in a potpourri of theatre, poetry, monologue, stand-up comedy, Indian classical dance and music at Auckland's Basement Theatre. Photo: Supplied
"There are multiple compartments to a tiffin box and each holds a different dish," says Porvi Fomra, who is debuting her stand-up comedy act as part of the production. "That's what this show is - a combination of multiple performance art mediums, all beautifully curated.
Forma admits to experiencing a few butterflies ahead of performing her routine.
"I'm pretty excited but I'm quite new to stand-up comedy as a performance medium, so I'm a little nervous," she says.
Fomra is a graduate of the Pan-Asian Comedy School Aotearoa that is run by comedian Jess Karamjit.
"That helped me build my confidence a bit more," she says.
Titled Potions for Marital Success, her routine seeks to keep the audience engaged and laughing.
"Hopefully people find it funny," she says.
Fomra, who is also an actor with Prayas Theatre, says comedy is not easy.
"It's very different trying to make a group of friends laugh in a social setting compared to performing for a whole audience, because comedy is so subjective," she says.
"What you find funny, someone else might not, so it's about finding the right balance."
Fomra moved to New Zealand in 2012 for her studies and joined Prayas Theatre in 2016.
Like Chatterjee, she believes that South Asian involvement in the performing arts in New Zealand is growing.
"There are so many South Asian people in the industry, not just on stage, but also as playwrights, stage managers and production crew," Fomra says.
She says the traditional South Asian mindset of not viewing the performing arts as a viable career is shifting.
"Many parents are now encouraging their children to be part of the arts," she says.
"A lot of young people in university are trying to be more present in the theatre community, which is really nice. It would be lovely to see more of that."
Nervously excited about her debut, she encourages Aucklanders to come and watch the show.
"[Prayas Theatre] always puts on a good show," Fomra says. "It'll be fun."
Tiffin Box is on daily at Basement Theatre in Auckland through Saturday.
