The Power of Representation: How a Play Changed the Author's Life
When Gayathiri Kamalakanthan saw Barber Shop Chronicles at National Theatre at Home during lockdown, she was struck by its powerful portrayal of 33 black male characters from six cities. The play, written by Inua Ellams, seamlessly blended conversations on sex, marriage, queerness, and capitalism with tender moments, leaving the audience deeply invested in each character's story.
What resonated most with Kamalakanthan was the play's ability to represent diverse masculinity, which as a queer non-binary individual, she found affirming. The scenes transitioned fluidly between characters, set against an infectious backdrop of music and choreography that felt truly powerful. What she didn't know was that Ellams had spent hours conducting interviews with people from those cities, meticulously capturing their tone, vocabulary, and expressions.
This play sparked a new perspective in Kamalakanthan, who realized the potential for representation in theatre. She began recording conversations with her own family members – particularly about her Tamil-ness – which later influenced her first play, Period Parrrty. The experience taught her that verbatim dialogue could be both powerful and necessary on stage.
Barber Shop Chronicles serves as a testament to the impact of authentic storytelling and diverse representation in theatre. Kamalakanthan's journey highlights how one play can change lives by inspiring individuals to explore their own voices and experiences, ultimately leading to new works that celebrate identity and human connection.
Inua Ellams' masterful direction weaves together conversations from real-life interviews with theatrical performances, resulting in a truly immersive experience for the audience. The way Kamalakanthan was able to draw parallels between this play and her own creative journey underscores the power of theatre as a medium that not only entertains but also educates and empowers us.
For those seeking stories of identity, community, or simply human connection, Barber Shop Chronicles stands out as a landmark production. Its influence extends far beyond the stage, inspiring writers like Kamalakanthan to explore their own voices and experiences in meaningful ways.
When Gayathiri Kamalakanthan saw Barber Shop Chronicles at National Theatre at Home during lockdown, she was struck by its powerful portrayal of 33 black male characters from six cities. The play, written by Inua Ellams, seamlessly blended conversations on sex, marriage, queerness, and capitalism with tender moments, leaving the audience deeply invested in each character's story.
What resonated most with Kamalakanthan was the play's ability to represent diverse masculinity, which as a queer non-binary individual, she found affirming. The scenes transitioned fluidly between characters, set against an infectious backdrop of music and choreography that felt truly powerful. What she didn't know was that Ellams had spent hours conducting interviews with people from those cities, meticulously capturing their tone, vocabulary, and expressions.
This play sparked a new perspective in Kamalakanthan, who realized the potential for representation in theatre. She began recording conversations with her own family members – particularly about her Tamil-ness – which later influenced her first play, Period Parrrty. The experience taught her that verbatim dialogue could be both powerful and necessary on stage.
Barber Shop Chronicles serves as a testament to the impact of authentic storytelling and diverse representation in theatre. Kamalakanthan's journey highlights how one play can change lives by inspiring individuals to explore their own voices and experiences, ultimately leading to new works that celebrate identity and human connection.
Inua Ellams' masterful direction weaves together conversations from real-life interviews with theatrical performances, resulting in a truly immersive experience for the audience. The way Kamalakanthan was able to draw parallels between this play and her own creative journey underscores the power of theatre as a medium that not only entertains but also educates and empowers us.
For those seeking stories of identity, community, or simply human connection, Barber Shop Chronicles stands out as a landmark production. Its influence extends far beyond the stage, inspiring writers like Kamalakanthan to explore their own voices and experiences in meaningful ways.
it's crazy how one play can change ur life like gamathirii kamalakantahn says she was struck by the portrayal of diverse masculinity which as a queer non-binary person resonated with her so much 
the way inua ellams blended conversations on sex, marriage, queerness, and capitalism with tender moments left me invested in each character's story 
what i love about this play is how it breaks down barriers and celebrates human connection 
it brought back memories of the old-school British plays I used to watch at school... they were so much grittier & rawer. But seriously, what resonated with me was how authentic the performances were – like, you could feel the realness in their characters' struggles. Reminded me of when I watched Rent 
back in 2010, it was like nothing I'd ever seen before... the way they tackled tough issues like addiction & love. Now this play's all about representation, but what really struck me was how it showed diverse masculinity – as a queer person myself, it felt so empowering to see that kind of narrative on stage. And can we talk about Inua Ellams' direction? 
it's like he merged the past with the present & created something entirely new... like my old VHS tapes from the 90s, they're still fascinating! 
I was so moved by this play and its impact on the author's life! As a parent myself, I love seeing my kids represented in media - it makes them feel seen and heard 
). It's about authenticity and real voices being shared on stage.
. This play showed me that real representation is key.
! As a parent, I want my kids to feel empowered to tell their own stories and be heard on stage or screen too. It's amazing how one play can spark a whole new generation of creators 
. Can't they see how frustrating that is?
. I love how this play inspired Gayathiri to explore her own voice and experiences through theatre, and now she's creating works that celebrate identity and human connection 
i mean, have you tried their cold brew? its so on point 
i feel like that's really true, especially when it comes to representation in theatre 
this play is literally changing lives 
also the way ellams used verbatim dialogue was genius 
! This play is proof that theatre has the power to change lives, not just entertain us 