Kali Theatre

Kali Theatre is a theatre company that specialises in presenting plays by women of South Asian descent. Founded in 1991 by Rita Wolf and Rukhsana Ahmad, Helena Bell became the theatres artistic director in 2016, succeeding Janet Steel. Bell died in 2025.[1]

Kali Theatre was supported by the Arts Council[2] in 2014 for "nurtur[ing] strong individual writers who challenge perceptions through original and thought-provoking theatre".

History

In 1990, after reading about Balwant Kaur, a Sikh woman murdered by her husband in front of their children for running away to a women's refuge, Rita Wolf felt "outraged"[3] that the story was not wider spread. Wolf found out about writer Rukhsana Ahmad, who was compelled to write about Balwant Kaur's story. Ahmad went on to write Song for a Sanctuary, Kali Theatre's inaugural production, which Wolf directed.

Kali was formed after repeated approaches to established venues and companies for help to produce the play failed. Due to this Wolf & Ahmad established Kali Theatre company with Wolf taking on the role of artistic director.

Kali toured plays nationally. Helena Bell became the theatre's artistic director in 2016, succeeding Janet Steel. Bell died in 2025.[1]


References

  1. ^ a b Gupta, Atiha Sen (2025-05-04). "Helena Bell obituary". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
  2. ^ "NPO – Kali Theatre Company". ArtsCouncil.org.uk. Archived from the original on 13 July 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  3. ^ "About". Kali Theatre. Retrieved 2018-04-12.
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