Five great plays to diversify your curriculum

The Empress by Tanika Gupta

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.

The Great Wave by Francis Turnly

Synopsis: On a Japanese beach, teenage sisters Hanako and Reiko are caught in a storm. Reiko survives while Hanako is lost to the sea. Their mother, however, can’t shake the feeling her missing daughter is still alive, and soon family tragedy takes on a global political dimension.

Why it’s great: Set in Japan and North Korea, Francis Turnly’s thriller The Great Wave is based on the true story of Japanese citizens abducted by the North Korean regime in the 1970s and 80s and echoes the experience of Megumi Yokota, who was just 13 when she went missing.

Barber Shop Chronicles by Inua Ellams

Synopsis: Newsroom, political platform, local hot spot, confession box, preacher-pulpit and football stadium. For generations, African men have gathered in barber shops to discuss the world. These are places where the banter can be barbed and the truth is always telling.

Why it’s great: Partly inspired by verbatim recordings, Inua Ellam’s cross-stitch of reality is a heart-warming, hilarious and insightful play that leaps from a barber shop in Peckham to Johannesburg, Harare, Kampala, Lagos and Accra over the course of a single day, providing a fascinating peak into the lives of those rarely represented on stage.

The Free9 by In-Sook Chappell

Synopsis: As nine teenagers flee North Korea, dreaming of a new life in the South and dodging ever-present dangers, they rely on the mysterious ‘Big Brother’ to help them. But can he really be trusted? Could their ultimate fate be decided by a garish South Korean variety show?

Why it’s great: Shockingly inspired by a true story, The Free9 expertly weaves together themes of hope, escape and cultural difference, providing an astonishing and touching look into one of the defining international conflicts of this generation.

Gone Too Far! by Bola Agbaje

Synopsis: Are you proud of where you’re from? When two brothers from different continents go down the street to buy a pint of milk, they lift the lid on a disunited nation where everyone wants to be an individual, but no-one wants to stand out from the crowd.

Why it’s great: Winner of the 2008 Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre, Gone Too Far is a hilarious and touching piece, intersecting themes of identity, history and culture to portray an all-too-familiar world where respect isn’t always a two-way-street…

These plays are all published and licensed for perofrmance by Methuen Drama. Find out more at bloomsbury.com/drama.

Bloomsbury are Partners in the Lit in Colour campaign, founded by Penguin and The Runnymede Trust, supporting schools with making the teaching and learning of English literature more inclusive. Bloomsbury are putting the spotlight on plays and drama within the English Literature and Drama curriculums to create more representative and diverse drama experiences in schools. Learn more at bloomsbury.com/litincolour.