An unforgettable theatre experience of five contemporary, original plays
Crossover Stories is delighted to bring you its maiden theatre event in Sydney. The five short plays written by critically acclaimed writer Avijit Sarkar are developed by five directors, and performed by 27 actors of diverse backgrounds. The production opens on 17 February for three shows only .
These stories aim at stimulating conversations around the evolving paradigms of marriage, sexuality, love, brotherhood, religion, and social cohesion through the lens of South Asian culture.
With this production, Crossover Stories flirts with the definition of art as put by Ceaser A Cruz when he says, ‘Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.’
Before casting, all 27 actors went through three gruelling rounds of auditions. The five Australian directors bring their experienced observations on culture, religion, and social fabric into play in these crisp portrayals.
As Sydney embraces live performances again in 2023, these five open-ended short plays are a perfect catalyst to reconnect with friends and family.
“These stories are an unadulterated telling of the political, religious and social dogmas prevalent in our society, yet with a humorous undertone,” Avijit Sarkar said.
Curator Taufeeq Sheikh adds, “These stories do come with certain risks associated but a greater risk is to not tell them. Crossover Stories aims at creating a safe space for storytellers to be unapologetically true to their expression.”
WHAT Crossover stories presents Stories By Avijit Sarkar
WHEN: 2023, Friday 17 Feb 07:00 pm | Saturday18 Feb 04:00pm & 07:00pm
WHERE Bankstown Arts Centre, 5 Olympic Parade, Bankstown, NSW
SUITABLE FOR Ages 15+
CONTENT WARNINGS Adult Themes
TICKET PRICES Starting from $25 up to $75 | Booking fees apply
BOOKINGS: https://www.premiertickets.co/stories-by-avijit-sarkar/
For further information, interviews, and images please contact
Crossover Stories
Taufeeq Ahmed Sheikh | taufeeq.n.ahmed@gmail.com | 0430884040
Rushi Dave | 0413806425
Avijit Sarkar
Avijit Sarkar is a Sydney based musician, composer, illustrator, cartoonist, writer, poet, puppeteer, philanthropist, mathematician, a teacher, husband & a grandfather. He was awarded the Australia Day Award 2020 for his contributions to Arts and Culture. The Australian Performing Rights Association (APRA) endorsed him as a music composer.
He has performed in over 1800 concerts in the last 45 years. His music institute in Sydney, Natraj Academy, has continually trained music professionals for over 17 years. In the last decade, many of his concerts have raised money for cancer research in Australia.
As a cartoonist, Avijit observes society on a keen emotional plane, that finds a natural translation into the five plays: Stories By Avijit Sarkar.
Taufeeq Ahmed Sheikh & Crossover Stories
Taufeeq made his debut as an actor at the age of nine in India. He resumed his creative pursuits in Sydney in 2018 after a sabbatical of 14 years and now works in the Australian performing and literary arts spectrum with an added focus on the South Asian community.
Eversince, Taufeeq has performed in plays like Shakespeare’s Othello, Much Ado About Nothing and Hamlet, EM Forster’s Passage to India, Mahesh Dattani’s Where Did I Leave my Purdah, Vikram Kapadia’s Black with equal, Joanna Murray Smith’s Female of the Species, and Broadway musicals like The Drowsy Chaperone performed in Sydney, Australia, to name a few. Simultaneously, he forayed into stage and film direction. His films for the Dowry Abuse Project, an initiative of the NSW Police, received the coveted Rotary Club Media Award.
Taufeeq is an award-winning writer, filmmaker and a radio broadcaster. His vision is to bring the creative ambitions of emerging artists to life and into the mainstream Australian media. He has coordinated and produced transcontinental media and cultural affairs with some of the biggest names in the arts and entertainment industry while being a corporate finance consultant by the day.
Crossover Stories emerges from Taufeeq’s journey as a thespian, director, producer, and a storyteller. His ready acceptance in the Australian arts space as an artist of South Asian background has fuelled his mission to replicate the same opportunity and create a safe space for storytellers to experiment and explore their craft through this production house.
Stories by Avijit Sarkar: CREATIVE TEAM
Performed by
Aafiz Khan
Akanksha Srivastava
Akshat Gupta
Ananya Dixit
Bobby Phillips
James Fraser Moir
Libin Tom
Manisha Belani
Manjit Kaur (Manny)
Meera Rajagopalan
Mittal Bhavsar
Munish Arora
Namita Matani
Neil Sceymour
Nisar Sirguroh
Pervin Rajah
Priyanka Datar
Rowan Adnitt
Saral Somaiya
Saurabh Datar
Suman Mathur
Sylwana Skarzynska
Tasneem Gadiwala
Terry Parker
Written by
Avijit Sarkar
Direction and Dramaturgy by
Akshat Gupta
Jyotsana Sharma
Paul Kininmonth
Sam Cosentino
Susan Jordan
Musical Composer
Avijit Sarkar
Producers
Crossover Stories by Taufeeq Sheikh
Production Manager
Rushi Dave
Project Manager
Meera Rajagopalan
Stage Manager
Mani Dixit
Lighting Designer
Tushar Bose
Sounds Designer
Sanjeev Raja
Marketing & Publicity
Kashmira Sachania
Kamal Kajuria
Manasvi Sharma
Taufeeq Sheikh
Upala Sonhankar
Media Creatives
Eternal Diaries by Kamal Kajuria
Videos and Stills
Temper Creative Media by Kesari Bhattacharya
Production Team
Pooja Sejwal
Phebyn Joseph
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