DAM: BCD Theatre and Culture Shock Theatrical in Association with Bakehouse Theatre presents ‘For the Love of Paper’, a new theatre show written and created by Almitra Mavalvala. Inspired by real events, the show delves into themes of love and resilience through the friendship of Amaliah and Kaveh, exploring just how far we will go for for those we love.
‘Set in modern Australia, Amaliah and Kaveh face immigration complexities that threaten their friendship. Amaliah is at risk of deportation and her best friend Kaveh is determined to find a solution, leading them through the bureaucratic maze of immigration laws and cultural clashes. Kaveh engineers an audacious plan, bending the rules and testing their friendship. Love intertwines with legal challenges, posing the ultimate question: Can they secure a happy future, or will their quest lead to incarceration?‘
Directed by Kersherka Sivakumaran; with Almitra Mavalvala, Antony Makhlouf and Joseph Raboy
“This team, these people who have BLINDLY come onto the project without even
reading the script has been a VERY humbling experience for me. I can say this with hand on my heart, that they are some of the best people I have worked with and I will continue to do so. They challenge me as a creative and a human being in the best way. They all want the best for this project and I’m so very grateful for that.” – Almitra, Writer/Co-Producer/Actor
“I am so blessed to have an amazing network of friends, families and people who are supporting this show and believe in our vision. I bring this up because on a daily basis they remind me that this work is important and valued and that continues to drive me when I’m tired, confused or drained. The cast and team have worked so hard and have made it easy for me to enjoy every part of this process. I am filled with gratitude and cannot wait for people to see the show.” – Kershika, Director/Co-Producer
DAM: Almitra, off the heels of Blacklisted (Sydney & Adelaide Fringe), how did it feel getting straight into ‘For the Love of Paper’?
AM: It’s exciting to be able to throw myself into a new work. As much as I love performing Blacklisted, it usually does exhaust me so I’m glad to have something else to focus on and I’ve got the most wonderful team supporting me which makes the work so much easier to perform.
DAM: What inspired ‘For the Love of Paper’?
AM: Honestly, I got tired of people telling me I should “just get married to an Aussie” if I wanted to stay in the country. So I said, cool, I’ll write what I know but keep it different enough from my own life so that I don’t have to put myself through emotional trauma every night and I can remove myself from it. It is absolutely based on my lived experience with immigration, but this is not a true story.
DAM: What was it about ‘For the Love of Paper’ that made you want to be
part of the project?
KS: I was immediately drawn to the script because of the humour it brought to the heavy and traditionally mundane topic of immigration / bureaucracy. It’s always a hard balance bringing humour into a serious situation. In this case the humour is inspired by the writer’s lived experience which brings it authenticity – the play reflects the resilience and laughter that accompanies life’s most challenging moments. Aside from the humour the issues discussed within the narrative around migration challenges, bureaucracy and family expectations from a South Asian lens are all important points of discussion to contribute to the broader conversation about ‘multicultural Australia’. The play emphasises unity in diversity and the strength that arises from embracing our shared humanity – a vision that aligns with my values and intention behind my artistic endeavours.
A: The playful nature that the story uses to explore the legal and social difficulties people face when trying to put down roots in Australia drew me to the project. It delivers challenging Australian experiences with humour and heart. It’s a story with a
lot of contrast.
JR: I had already worked alongside Antony on another play; He was my
costume designer. So, getting to jump on board this play knowing that I’d
be able to act alongside him was definitely an impetus to be a part of this project. On top of that, Almitra has written something so important, hilarious and poignant. Stories written by and told by people of colour are vital for our industry. To be a part of ‘For the Love of Paper’ in any way is truly an honour.
DAM: What’s it been like working with Almitra and the rest of the team?
A: Working with Almitra and the team has been playful, explorative and creative. There have been laughs yet a shared focus, aiming to give this new work its most authentic light.
JR: I joined the cast later on in the rehearsal process and Almitra, Antony, our director Kersh and the rest of the team have all welcomed me with open arms. I’m surrounded by such generous and intelligent artists. I’m able to bounce off everyone’s creative spirits and it’s been a blast getting to rehearse with this team.
DAM: Have there been any challenges in the process of Directing this play and if so, how did you manage them?
KS: This is my first time directing a live theatre stage production. My biggest challenge at the start of the process was learning to trust my intuition. Having worked predominantly in professional services, I initially was seeking some sort of a “director’s handbook”. After discussions with various people in the field I learned very quickly the first rule is that there are no rules. Once I stopped worrying about doing the ‘right’ job and focused on what I can bring to the story, everything started to take shape. I am so lucky to have a team that trusts me and provides regular feedback. Since those first few weeks I would say I have met no challenges but lots of opportunities to grow.
DAM: What’s your favourite thing about Directing?
KS: I love the in-depth discussions around the characters and the different choices they may make in each and every situation. In one rehearsal we spent around 8 hours just interrogating and understanding the characters and their relationships. It was such an invigorating session. I appreciate the vulnerability the cast and production team have brought to these discussions as it has brought together our different lived experiences to ensure we bring informed decisions to the story. Being a dancer I also love the chance to bring my choreography and body language skills to enhance the delivery of the play.
DAM: What’s your favourite thing about Amaliah/Kaveh? Do you see yourself in them or are they quite different?
AM: It’s hard playing a character you wrote based on yourself. But there’s enough point of difference that I can remove myself (Almitra) from the show. My favourite thing about Amaliah is that she is hopelessly optimistic about life. But the biggest thing I admire about her is her loyalty to her best friend Kaveh.
A: My favourite thing about Kaveh is how he has been written. He is a peculiar character. He is naïve and shows traits of arrested development. Yet, despite this innocence, his actions border on manipulation for his own benefit. These contrasting traits make the role exciting. I share Kaveh’s same sense of loyalty to family. However, there are vast differences, particularly in his co-dependency with deeply personal matters.
DAM: What would you say lead you towards pursuing Acting as a career?
A: I admire the unifying power storytelling can achieve, and to be a part of that process as a performer is fulfilling. It’s also terrifying and exciting stepping into different personas.
JR: I was born in the Philippines and spent the first 6 years of my life there. From a very young age my parents introduced me to the Arts and it’s never left me. It was such a huge part of my life but I hadn’t really considered a career in it. Once I migrated to Australia, I slowly started to realise that I could pursue it as a career, or at the very least, study acting at a tertiary Bachelors level. I was 10 years old and in Year 5 when I told my parents at a Westfield Food Court that I wanted to be an actor. When I was cast as the lead role in my high school’s musical, it really solidified for me that this was my calling and that I had to at least give it a shot. I was tossing up between Music and Acting in the lead up to my High School Graduation but ultimately, I chose the latter.
DAM: Would you say you have dream role?
JR: My dream role would have to be a tie between ‘Jim Quinn’ in Prodigal
Son by John Patrick Shanley and ‘Konstantin’ in Anton Chekhov’s The
Seagull.
DAM: Being a Producer as well as the Writer/Lead Actor means wearing a lot of hats. Why did you feel the need to Produce as well?
AM: Because no one else would do it. And I knew that my time in Australia is limited and if I wanted to make this happen, I’d have to take a risk on myself and my work because it’s important and it’s urgent and I’m terrified but I guess that’s a good sign. Because my art is just an extension of who I am as a person, and I truly believe that we just have to be the change we want to see moving forward. People did it before
us to pave the way and maybe we have to do the same for the future. I might not be able to do much as my time is limited but I’m happy to make a tiny dent if that’s all my time will allow me to do. I do have a Co-producer though and she has been my biggest supporter and champion of this work and I’m so blessed and grateful to have her on board.
DAM: How do you feel about the scope of Representation in Australia at present, and how do you think we can better advocate for more authentic stories in the media?
KS: I believe that while there is some level of representation of ‘multicultural Australia’ in the media, it often lacks authenticity and genuineness. The main issue stems from the tendency to label stories featuring non-white Australians as “multicultural Australian stories.” However, I contend that there should not be a distinction between multicultural and Australian stories; they are all part of the broader Australian narrative. Continuing to differentiate these stories only serves to perpetuate the idea of our differences rather than highlighting our shared humanity. To advocate for more authentic representation in the media, we need to challenge these labels and stereotypes and strive for a more inclusive portrayal of diverse experiences. This can be achieved by providing greater opportunities and platforms for storytellers from various backgrounds to share their perspectives authentically. Media organisations should actively seek out and promote diverse voices both in front of and behind the camera, ensuring that the stories being told accurately reflect the richness and complexity of Australian society. By breaking down barriers and embracing inclusivity, we can work towards a media landscape that better represents the true diversity of our nation. I would like to note that I have and continue to use the term “Multicultural Australia” to classify this show and every time it destroys me a little. But I am conscious that while we are making this cultural shift it’s a term that helps to classify the work and understand the intention but I hope this changes over time.
DAM: What do you hope audiences will take away from the show?
A: A lot of respect and admiration for the characters in this show to be honest. They portray real people in the world and their narrative is authentic. There’s something to
be said about the strength it takes to go as far as these characters go to protect and love each other and their friendship. We hope audiences will engage in conversations about experiences of different migrant communities, much after this play.
KS: I hope audiences learn to never say “Chai TEA” (it’s just chai). But on a serious note I hope audiences walk away with a deeper empathy for other peoples experiences and motivation to make the most of life. The show at its core is a celebration of the indomitable human spirit it reminds us to not get bogged down in what’s not going right and focus on what is. I hope everyone walks away optimistic and hopeful.
Catch the show here:
‘For the Love of Paper’, Showing from 05 – 20 April 2024,
KXT on BROADWAY, 181 Broadway, Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia
Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/for-the-love-of-paper
Culture Shock Theatrical: https://www.instagram.com/culture_shock_theatrical/
BCD Theatre: https://www.instagram.com/bcd_theatre/
.
.
.
Published by Sangeetha Gowda & Marshall-Weishuai Yuan ~
Photos by NOAH Creative
Diversity Australia Magazine 