When the Crows Visit, Kiln Theatre

The world premiere of Indian playwright Anupama Chandrasekhar’s latest play When the Crows Visit premieres at the Kiln Theatre this autumn. The story follows a mother forced to confront the ghosts of her past when her son returns home after being accused of a violent crime. The play is inspired by true events in modern-day India as well as themes of oppression and morality explored in Ibsen’s 1881 play Ghosts.

Chandrasekhar became the National Theatre’s first international writer in residence in 2016. The playwright, who was born in Chennai in India, has also had work staged at the Royal Court in London as well as a number of top venues in India, Europe and North America. In 2008, Chandrasekhar was a runner up for the Evening Standard Theatre Awards’ Charles Wintour Prize for Most Promising Playwright.

The Kiln Theatre’s artistic director Indhu Rubasingham is directing When the Crows Visit. Rubasingham has collaborated with Chandrasekhar before, directing her plays Free Outgoing (2007) and Disconnect (2013), both of which premiered at the Royal Court.

Rubasingham says: ‘I am thrilled to be working with such a talented cast on Anu’s new play. I first worked with Anu 12 years ago at the Royal Court. She had come through their brilliant international programme. In my opinion, she is the most important voice coming out of India and it is a real privilege to be directing and producing her new play here at Kiln Theatre.’

Among Rubasingham’s other productions for the Kiln Theatre are Wife (2019), White Teeth (2018) and Red Velvet (2014), which transferred to New York and later to the Garrick Theatre as part of the Kenneth Branagh Season.

When the Crows Visit promises to be both dark and thrilling.