Theatre of Debate

25/10/2024

Post performance debate with writer Sudha Bhuchar and Director Nigel Townsend.

24/10/2024

BEHIND THE SCENES!

Filming 'A Picture of Health'

Photographed by: Amy-Kay Pell, Nigel Townsend

15/10/2024

Rachana Jadhav
DESIGNER
Rachana Jadhav is an award-winning theatre designer, illustrator, and co-Artistic director of Brolly Productions. She trained as an architect and production design works include for National Theatre of Scotland, National Theatre, Tara, Southbank, Polka, and Derby Theatres. Her published illustration works include ‘Interactions’ an anthology of short stories and poems by stroke survivors, and ‘Total Immediate Collective Imminent Terrestrial Salvation’ with Tim Crouch. Her latest video design incorporating hand drawn animations premiered at Sadlers Wells for Seeta Patel’s Dance company, solo work ‘Shree’ as part of ‘Rites of Spring’, and she is currently designing ‘The Buddha of Suburbia’ at the RSC. Her latest design work with Emma Rice on the RSC production of ‘The Buddha of Suburbia’ transfers to the Barbican in October 2024.

14/10/2024

BOOK NOW! Watch 'A Picture of Health' at 7pm

Photographed by: Debra Cougill

09/10/2024

Sudha Bhuchar
Sudha is an acclaimed actor/playwright/founder of Bhuchar Boulevard. As co-founder of Tamasha, with Kristine Landon-Smith, their landmark work includes an adaptation of Rohinton Mistry’s A Fine Balance & the award-winning musical Fourteen Songs Two Weddings and a Funeral.

Other writing credits include Child of the Divide (Time out No1 show for families 2006/ Winner Asian media awards 2018), Final Farewell (Tara Theatre), Covid and Me & A Picture of Health (Theatre of Debate), Touchstone Tales (Revoluton Arts & Wellcome Collection) and her new interactive children’s book A Rainbow for Amala (The other way works). Sudha has written and performs her solo show, Evening Conversations (now also on Audible)

Acting credits include Expats (Prime video), Rules of the Game (BBC), Riz Ahmed and Bassam Tariq’s Mogul Mowgli, Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns, Orlando von Einsiedel’s, Into Dust (Amazon Prime and You Tube-real stories) and the oscar-winning short, The long goodbye. Sudha is soon to appear in BBC’s new detective series,Virdee.

Sudha was a finalist as Best Actress for BBC Radio 4’s Audio drama awards (2019) for My Son the Doctor (co- written with Saleyha Ahsan) and was awarded Tongues on Fire’s Flame Award (2018) & Eastern Eye’s ACTA award (2019) for her significant contribution to the Arts.

Sudha is a trustee of Actors Touring Company and Independent Cinema Office.

07/10/2024

Krishnaraja Wodeyar III
Krishnaraja Wodeyar III was painted by Thomas Hickey as a child after his ascension to the throne at just 5 years old under the regency of his adopted grandmother, Rajamata Lakshmammani.
He ruled for nearly 70 years, and it is said that he fostered the cultural growth of Mysore. As a writer himself, he held the development of art during his period of rule in the utmost importance, sponsoring many scholars in his court and a great number of art pieces.

07/10/2024

Jemdanee
Thomas Hickey's painting 'An Indian Lady'. It is said that this is probably a depiction of Hickey's Bengali partner, Jemdanee. In the play 'A picture of Health', it is spoken of how Hickey was able to capture the truest beauty of an Indian woman often refererred to as 'Bibi'; which is a respectful term for a woman especially a senior lady.

07/10/2024

Krishnacharya Purniya
One of the portraits we see in the play 'A picture of Health', painted by Thomas Hickey is the Portrait of Purniya.

Purniya was the Chief Minister of Mysore during the battle for power between the East India Trading Company and the Tipu Sultan, for whom Purniya was the most trusted advisor. At this time, Purniya chose to ally himself with The East India Trading Company. After the fall of the Tipu Sultan and the conquering of his kingdom in 1799, Purniya was appointed the first Dewan (Regent) of Mysore. He was known for his accounting skills, his good memory, and his proficiency in many languages. His likeness was painted in Persian dress but with a background of Western interior.

06/10/2024

02/10/2024

Nim Gill
Younger Queen Devajammani / Devika

Nim was part of the inaugural young company at Tara Theatre and is currently the Trainee Assistant Director at The Young Vic for The Collective (January 2025). Theatre credits: DNA (Tara Theatre), What’s My Ident? (Tara Theatre x Deaf Explorer). Short-film credits: Ode to Partition (Tribe Arts). Nim has attended acting workshops at Shakespeare’s Globe, Orange Tree Theatre, and the Donmar. She is passionate about telling stories from marginalised and conventionally under-represented communities. She is thrilled to join the Picture of Health team for her first touring project.

Photographer: Steve Gregson

02/10/2024

John McAndrew
Playing Thomas Hickey/ Mark Wilks/ Harry

John trained at LAMDA. His acting career has taken him around the world, and he has performed at various venues in over 60 different countries, from Broadway (New York) to Shanghai and Beijing in China. He spent seven seasons at the Royal Shakespeare Company and has acted in most major theatres in the U.K. as well as the Old Vic in the West End. He has appeared widely on tv. He was a semi-regular in 'Casualty' and, more recently, a guest lead in 'Doctors' for which he was nominated for a British Soap Award. John has also acted in over 200 radio plays, including Pippin in the BBC Radio adaptation of 'Lord of the Rings.'

Photographer: Steve Gregson (second picture)

02/10/2024

Adrian Paul Jeyasingham
Playing Arjun/ Purnaiya

Adrian has collaborated on several young people & community projects. He graduated from RADA in 2023 with a BA in acting and has worked at the National Youth Theatre. He performed at the Edinburgh Fringe in the widely-praised NYT production of ‘Start Swimming’ and appeared in ‘Breathe Lonely’ at the Lyric, Hammersmith and ‘Handel and Hendrix’ at the NYT. TV work has included ‘Takeaway’, ‘Teach me How’ and the thriller ‘Iris’. He is also a musician and has worked as an Assistant Director on ‘Him & The Boys’ at The Old Vic, at the Theatre Royal Stratford East, and at The Kings Head.

Photographer: Steve Gregson (second picture)