Details

India is surging with global ambition. But beyond the luxury hotels surrounding Mumbai airport lies a makeshift slum, full of people with plans of their own. Zehrunisa and her son Abdul aim to recycle enough rubbish to fund a proper house. Sunil, twelve and stunted, wants to eat until he's as tall as Kalu the thief. Asha seeks to steal government anti-poverty funds to turn herself into a 'first-class person', while her daughter Manju intends to become the slum's first female graduate. But their schemes are fragile; global recession threatens the garbage trade, and another slum-dweller is about to make an accusation that will destroy herself and shatter the neighbourhood. Katherine Boo spent three years in Annawadi recording the lives of its residents. From her uncompromising book, winner of the National Book Award for Non-Fiction 2012, David Hare has fashioned a tumultuous play on an epic scale.

Cast/Performers

Pal Aron, Hiran Abeysekera, Esh Alladi, Nathalie Armin, Vincent Ebrahim, Sartaj Garewal, Mariam Haque, Thusitha Jayasundera, Muzz Khan, Ranjit Krishnamma, Manjeet Mann, Anjli Mohindra, Ronak Patani, Bharti Patel, Anneika Rose, Chook Sibtain, Gavi Singh Chera, Stephanie Street, Meera Syal, Anjana Vasan, Assad Zaman, Shane Zaza

Creatives/Company

Author: David Hare (based on the book by Katherine Boo)
Corporate Sponsor: Travelex
Producer: National Theatre (in association with Scott Rudin)
Director: Rufus Norris
Design: Katrina Lindsay
Lighting: Paule Constable
Sound: Paul Arditti