Synopsis: At East London’s Tilbury Docks in 1887, Rani Das and Abdul Karim step ashore after the long voyage from India. One has to battle a society who deems her a second-class citizen; the other forges an astonishing entanglement with the ageing Queen Victoria who finds herself enchanted by stories of an India over which she rules, but has never seen.
Why it’s great: Through narrative, music and song, The Empress blends the true story of Queen Victoria’s controversial relationship with her ‘Munshi’ (teacher), Karim, with the experiences of Indian ayahs who came to Britain during the 19th century, charting the growth of Indian nationalism and uncovering remarkable unknown stories.
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