by Madhuri Shekar
Originally commissioned by Victory Gardens Theater
Chay Yew, Artistic Director and Erica Daniels, Managing Director
Dhaba on Devon Avenue plays
31st March & 1st April 2023
Artworks Theatre, 2 Korora Road, Oneroa, Waiheke Island
Dhaba Canteen has been an institution since the 90s, with their delicious Sindhi food transporting customers back to the halcyon days of an undivided India. But now it’s on the verge of bankruptcy, and the family that’s run it for generations is ready to go to war over its fate.
This production continues Prayas Theatre’s successful 17-year run in the Aotearoa theatre scene, having fast become our country’s largest and most acclaimed South Asian community theatre and cultural group. This play, handpicked from abroad for its relevance, speaks to the company’s goal of producing work that speaks to both the wider audience of Aotearoa, but also the experiences of the South Asian people who live here, to share, integrate with and enhance the cultural mosaic of this land.
Directed by Sananda Chatterjee
Previous Season
26 May – 5 June 2022
TAPAC, 100 Motions Rd, Western Springs
Ayesha Heble || Pooja Madhwani
Narme Deva || Rita Madhwani
Namrata Mankame-Shanbag || Sindhu Madhwani
Amit Ohdedar || Adil Jaisinghani
Samantha Cheong || Li Ming
Sananda Chatterjee || Director
Amit Ohdedar || Rehearsal Director
Jennifer Ward-Lealand || Intimacy Director
Moushumi Das || Music Director
Padma Akula || Costumes Design & H&S Lead
Maria Natalia Pereira Stagno || Set Design
Calvin Hudson || Lighting Design
Amit Ohdedar || Executive Producer
Nona Shedde || Producer
Sayanti Chatterjee || Associate Producer, Production Manager & H&S 2IC
Rishabh Kapoor || Production Assistant
Alisha Iyer || Marketing Manager
Ankita Singh || Photography & Poster Design
Natasha Iyer || Marketing & Design Associate
Nilam Patel || Social Media Marketing Associate
Sudeepta Vyas || Publicity Support
Jazmin Whittall || Stage Manager
“Seems like a simple storyline; comes with beautiful layers of emotions”
Sudeepta Vyas. https://prayas.co.nz/tastiest-offering-in-town/
“…skilfully take us through a carefully plotted narrative. Brick by brick we watch problems stacking up, moving towards the imminent collapse of the Dhaba Canteen”
Shriya Bhagwat. https://weekendcreative.wordpress.com/2022/05/28/dhaba-on-devon-avenue-a-review/
“It’s a passionate and eloquent drama of a family polarised by a gamut of emotions: pride, determination, challenge, and heritage.”
Glenda Pearce, Broadway World. https://www.broadwayworld.com/new-zealand/article/BWW-Review-DHABA-ON-DEVON-AVENUE-at-TAPAC-20220529
“…create these relatable characters that you and I can see ourselves in. They resonate with the audience because we can see our mothers, our uncles, our sisters, and our extended communities in them.”
Shreya Bakshi. https://prayas.co.nz/a-short-review/