Kali Theatre

Kali Theatre intrepid plays by fearless writers since 1991 Since 2002 its Artistic Director has been Janet Steel. We seek out original writers who challenge our perceptions.

About Kali Theatre

Kali Theatre was founded in 1990 by Rita Wolf and Rukhsana Ahmad to encourage, support and promote new theatre writing by women from a South Asian background. Kali is the UK’s only theatre company dedicated to championing women writers from a South Asian background. We focus on content and ideas as much as on style to present memorable theatre based on challenging and innovativ

e ideas. No idea is too small, no statement too large. We actively encourage our writers and audience to reinvent and reshape the theatrical agenda.

Huge congratulations to  and  who won an OffWestEnd Award for their brilliant design of Period Parrrty written by Gayath...
10/04/2026

Huge congratulations to and who won an OffWestEnd Award for their brilliant design of Period Parrrty written by Gayathiri Kamalakanthan, directed by

We first presented Period Parrrty as a short play in our Discovery Programme, where it won the audience vote. We then supported its development and presented it as a script-in-hand performance in our 2023 International Plays Festival. We finally presented it in full production with Soho Theatre in Autumn 2025. We are thrilled it has been recognised by this award.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make Discovery Bradford a special one.Over 27 & 28 February, we had the privileg...
10/03/2026

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make Discovery Bradford a special one.

Over 27 & 28 February, we had the privilege of witnessing four powerful new short plays at Theatre in the Mill with Kali Theatre:

Skoon by Nabeela Ahmed
Redrum Melody by Samara Daniels
The Almost by Shazia Bibi
Operation Erase the Colours by Lois Vohra

Directed by Sameena Hussain with dramaturgy by Atiha Sen Gupta, this showcase marked the culmination of a five-month programme supporting women and non-binary writers of South Asian descent.

Grateful to the writers, the creative team, everyone behind the scenes, and everyone who came out to watch. Your stories matter.





Photo credits: Theatre in the Mill and Karol Wyszynski

🚨 NEXT KALI FORUM ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨 We’re so excited to host Common/Wealth in our next Kali ForumGroundbreaking theatre com...
03/03/2026

🚨 NEXT KALI FORUM ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨

We’re so excited to host Common/Wealth in our next Kali Forum

Groundbreaking theatre company who build from the community, sight-specific, immersive, and electric, Common/Wealth shows are like no other

Winners of the Community Award at The Stage Awards

Join us to find out how to make DIY theatre!
Speak to Evie Manning their co-Artistic Director

Hear about their process, devising, working with communities and their new book Do It Yourself: Making Political Theatre

Thursday 12th March 6.30pm on Zoom
Join Via Zoom

Email [email protected] by 12pm on 11th March and we’ll send you a link

Photo credit: Sophie Gerrard

We’re super excited to present four short plays by South Asian women from Bradford and beyond.Operation Erase the Colour...
13/02/2026

We’re super excited to present four short plays by South Asian women from Bradford and beyond.

Operation Erase the Colours by Lois Vohra
When the council refuses to act after ‘Operation Raise the Colours’ sweeps through her town, Leela takes it upon herself to make things right. Armed with a tin of white emulsion and four hours of sleep, she sets to work painting over a vandalised roundabout. 

Skoon By Nabeela Ahmed
The pressures of family expectations, work, her activism and social media information overload have crippled Atheen until she stops doing anything. Can an older woman’s love, food and words return her to herself.

Redrum Melody by Samara Daniels
A story that captures the lived reality of a young girl navigating sexual abuse, betrayal, and danger.  Rubia and Summer are two best friends, with huge dreams and aspirations to leave the estate. But what happens when the systems of culture and child protection pull the brakes?

The Almost by Shazia Bibi
The Almost is a short play evolving into a full-length work, confronting the idea that within infinite choices, a single decision can redefine an entire life.

Link in bio to book your tickets!

Join us this Thursday for the next Kali Forum!We’re delighted to welcome Zoë Svendsen, who will be speaking about The Te...
10/02/2026

Join us this Thursday for the next Kali Forum!

We’re delighted to welcome Zoë Svendsen, who will be speaking about The Ten Steps of Climate Dramaturgy.

What is Climate Dramaturgy?

Climate Dramaturgy is a new artistic approach developed by HighTide for commissioning and producing theatre. It is an ever-evolving practice that centres climate-positive choices and climate justice, helping artists create work that is joyful, inclusive, and future-focused.

Come along to learn more, ask questions, and be part of the conversation.

12th Feb 6.30 pm - 8.30 pm via Zoom

Email [email protected] by Wednesday midday to book a space.

If you’re fasting and planning to come to the Discovery Bradford Showcase, we’re offering a complimentary ticket, prayer...
27/01/2026

If you’re fasting and planning to come to the Discovery Bradford Showcase, we’re offering a complimentary ticket, prayer room and dates & cups of tea.

Email [email protected] with DISCOVERY COMP in the subject to request your ticket.

We’re hiring! Apply by 13th February 2026.
13/01/2026

We’re hiring! Apply by 13th February 2026.

Welcome 2026!Join us at Theatre in the Mill, Bradford27 February, 7:00pm and 28 February, 2:30pmCome and experience four...
09/01/2026

Welcome 2026!

Join us at Theatre in the Mill, Bradford
27 February, 7:00pm and 28 February, 2:30pm
Come and experience four bold new short plays from our DISCOVERY writers in Bradford, developed over the last five months with Kali Theatre.

DISCOVERY is Kali’s five-month programme supporting emerging playwrights through workshops, mentoring and dramaturgical support, with each writer creating an original 20-minute play.
We can’t wait to share these exciting new voices with you.

Directed by Sameena Hussain
Dramaturg Atiha Sen Gupta

Tickets: £10 full / £5 concessions
(limited concessions and free tickets via [email protected])

Link in bio to book.

We’re excited to welcome Aisha Zia, Kali’s new Artistic Director, to our next Playwrights Forum. Aisha will explore the ...
25/11/2025

We’re excited to welcome Aisha Zia, Kali’s new Artistic Director, to our next Playwrights Forum. Aisha will explore the realities of being a writer today, offer practical strategies for working within a shifting cultural landscape, and discuss her vision for the future of new writing at Kali.

4th December, 6.30pm on Zoom.

RSVP to [email protected] by 2nd Dec midday. Spaces are limited.

Reviews are in for Period Parrrty 🤩🤩🤩
31/10/2025

Reviews are in for Period Parrrty 🤩🤩🤩

📢 Introducing another one of our guests for the Period Parrrty Poetry event - taking place on Saturday 15 November after...
21/10/2025

📢 Introducing another one of our guests for the Period Parrrty Poetry event - taking place on Saturday 15 November after the 2.15pm matinee performance.

We’re delighted to welcome Jay Mitra () — a British Indian punk poet, English teacher, and non-fiction writer based in London. Jay is an alumnus of Manchester collective Young Identity and a current member of the Roundhouse Poetry Collective.

The event will feature performances from a range of guest poets, lyrical fragments, and an open mic. 🎤

If you’d like to take part in the open mic, you can sign up before or after the show by giving your name to a member of our team. Each performer will have 3 minutes, and names will be drawn at random — it’s a welcoming, low-stakes space to share a poem or short story.

🎟️ The event is free for matinee ticket holders on 15 November.

📸 Photo credit:

Address

The Albany, Douglas Way
London
SE84AG

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 10pm
Tuesday 10am - 10pm
Wednesday 10am - 10pm
Thursday 10am - 10pm
Friday 10am - 10pm

Telephone

+442086946033

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