March 22 – 31, 2024
$34 / $27 / $22
This show is approximately 2 hours long with one 15-minute intermission.
Dil Ka [‘of the heart’] follows Zahra, a 26-year-old Pakistani woman, as she prepares to meet her latest arranged match for marriage. Zahra spends most of the play in her family’s kitchen preparing the traditional Pakistani dish, biryani, to present to the prospective groom’s family.
Dil Ka investigates the concept of the kitchen as both refuge and place of constriction for many South Asian women, and dissects the way in which we inherit familial habits and – most importantly – recipes. Toying with direct address as a confessional to explore the intersecting identity of a queer Muslim woman and the growing tension between her familial duties and her own desires for life. As the story unfolds the biryani becomes a metaphor for the ingredients that make a “perfect bride”.
Ages: 14+
Saturday, March 23rd at 7:30 PM’s performance of Dil Ka will be presented with ASL interpretation. If you require ASL interpretation, please select the allocated seats marked in teal when booking your tickets.
A Ruby Slippers Theatre Production
Co-Presented by Blackout Art Society and Presentation House Theatre
Written by Lee Nisar
Directed by Tricia Trinh
Stage Managed by Stephen Courtney
Assistant Stage Managed by Peter Jotkus
Technical Director and Production Manager, Jessica Han
Set Design by Kimira Reddy
Costume Design by Rachel Macadam
Lighting Design by John Webber
Sound Design by Mishelle Cuttler
Projection Design by Jullianna Oke (Chimerik)
Props Design by Louisa Birkin
Cultural Consultant, Adolyn Hamed Dar
CAST
Talia Vandenbrink – Zahra
Nimet Kanji – Mama
Parm Soor – Baba
Rami Kahlon – Aisha
Janavi Chawla – Sania
Tanaz Roudgar – Jaz
A Ruby Slippers Theatre Production
Co-Presented by Blackout Art Society and Presentation House Theatre
March 21 – 31, 2024
Thursday, March 21 – 7:30 PM (Preview)
Friday, March 22 – 7:30 PM
Saturday, March 23 – 2:00 PM* & 7:30 PM**
Sunday, March 24 – 2:00 PM***
Thursday, March 28 – 7:30 PM
Friday, March 29 – 7:30 PM
Saturday, March 30 – 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Sunday, March 31 – 2:00 PM
*Saturday, March 23rd at 2:00 PM’s performance of Dil Ka will include a talkback afterwards with the cast!
**Saturday, March 23rd at 7:30 PM’s performance of Dil Ka will be presented with ASL interpretation. If you require ASL interpretation, please select the allocated seats marked in teal when booking your tickets.
***Sunday, March 24th’s performance of Dil Ka will include a talkback afterwards with the playwright and director!
SHOW ADVISORY: Please note that this show includes offensive language and discussions of homophobia, racism, Islamophobia. If you have any accessibility needs, please reach out to our Box Office at boxoffice@phtheatre.org or 604-990-3474.