Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti

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Bhatti speaking at the International Conference on Free Expression and Conscience, London, 23 July 2017.

Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti (born in Watford in 1968 or 1969 [1] ) is a British Sikh writer who has written extensively for stage, screen and radio. [2] Her play Behzti (Dishonour) was cancelled by the Birmingham Rep after protests against the play by Sikhs turned violent and alleged death threats forced Bhatti to go into hiding. [3]

Contents

Life

Bhatti's first play, Behsharam (Shameless), received criticism from the Sikh community when it opened in 2001.

In 2005, Behzti won the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for the best English language play written by a woman. [4]

In 2010, her follow-up to Behzti titled Behud (Beyond Belief) [5] was co-produced by Soho Theatre and Coventry Belgrade and was shortlisted for the John Whiting Award.

In 2014, Khandan (Family) opened to sell-out audiences at the Birmingham Rep and the Royal Court Theatre.[ citation needed ]

In June 2014, her first anthology of plays, Plays One ( ISBN   9781783191307), was published by Oberon Books.

She is now[ when? ] working on a stage commission for the National Theatre. Bhatti also regularly writes for The Archers , [6] the Radio 4 drama serial.

Awards

Works

Plays

Radio, films, teleplays

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Behzti is a play written by the British Sikh playwright Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti. The play sparked controversy in the United Kingdom in December 2004. A controversial scene set in a Gurdwara included scenes of rape, physical abuse and murder, with some members of the Sikh community finding the play deeply offensive to their faith. On the opening night, 18 December 2004, at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, in Birmingham, England, a protest was organised by local Sikh leaders which turned violent, with the Rep cancelling performances of the play two days later. The case became part of a wider discussion in Britain about the limits of free speech and whether this can be curtailed where it offends the faith of religious groups.

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References

  1. Akbar, Arifa (2 December 2019). "Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti: 'My family make the Borgias look like the Waltons'". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  2. Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti (24 May 2014). "Ten years after my play Behzti sparked Sikh riots, I'm back Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti". The Guardian . Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  3. "This warrior is fighting on". The Guardian. London. 13 January 2005.
    - Alfred Hickling (15 March 2010). "Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti: 'I'm not scared'". The Guardian . Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  4. 1 2 "XXVII. 2004-05". Blackburn Prize. 3 July 2005. Archived from the original on 2 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
    - 'Bezhti' author wins prize for women playwrights, Louise Jury, The Independent, 8 March 2005, retrieved 9 June 2009
  5. Michael Billington (1 March 2010). "Behud (Beyond Belief)". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  6. 1 2 "A Week in Ambridge". Archers summaries on the web. 10 June 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
  7. "Profile: Playwright Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti". BBC News. 20 December 2004.
  8. "Gala Dinner: Wednesday May 19, 2010 London Hilton, Park Lane". Asian Women of Achievement Awards. Archived from the original on 17 May 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
  9. "Fourteen: Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti's new play examines the growing pains of teenage life". Fourteen play. 23 May 2014. Archived from the original on 5 June 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  10. "Khandan: Sikh suburban drama confronts home truths". Khandan play. 28 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.