ROJA
ROJA was originally an upcoming devised theatre production that explores the dynamics of queer Malaysian Indian relationships by digging into customs and practises that ultimately shape our ideas of the world, and the way we inhabit them. In 2019, my collaborator, Dhinesha Karthigesu, and I spent the year interviewing and collecting stories from women of various backgrounds and that initial question led us to a ton more, splinting off into multiple tangents and facets that make up our experience.
We made a saree installation, ROJA: WEAVING A WOMAN - transcripts and stories pinned to a giant weave made out of 9 sarees, donated by the women we interviewed. We invited the public to add their stories onto the installation with the prompt, “What does the saree mean to you?”. The installation was part of a larger exhibition that ran for 2 weeks and by the end of it, we collected over 72 responses. From their writings, the installation transformed into a space for confessions, dreams, heartbreak, and hope.
Help us weave our stories together
As we continue to work on the stage production and build on the installation, we recognised not only does this serve as research, but also as an archive of our community. We hope to tour the installation and continue to share these stories and begin conversations that are needed.
ROJA has since shifted greatly since it’s 2019 iteration. After digging a lot deeper into ROJA’s dramaturgical question, I discovered the story I wanted to tell is about the pain of learning to love as marginalised people when our traumas constantly surround us.
After months of reflecting and rewriting, I was finally able to draft the first completed script for ROJA through Cocoon Creative Lab’s 100 Days Project Playwriting Lab & Mentorship programme. As part of the programme, the script had it’s first Zoom reading on August 27th 2022, directed by A. Yagnya, stage managed by Haru Murasaki, and performed by Kamini Senthibalan, Tania Knutt, Thasha Gunaseelan, Visshnu Varman, and Camillea Benjamin.
I am actively looking for avenues to continue building the play and if you are interested in helping it’s development, please do not hesitate to get in touch!