A woman’s determination to express her creativity, identity, and love
Suitable for ages 11+
“I am a 5ft brown girl. Usually I go unnoticed. Like a fly on the wall. Like a crack in the ceiling. Like Canvas shoes next to Jimmy Choo”, reads the synopsis of Diary, the story of an Indian woman named Sudha. Shilpa Varma, the writer and star, articulates Sudha’s experiences of the world as a brown woman through the descriptions of objects – shoes, the ever-so-South Asian Vicks VapoRub, and a diary. The play is a wonderful homage to the simple things that keep us sane, the trinkets that hold a lifetime of memories. It is nostalgic and hopeful, funny and emotional.
The runtime of Diary is only around 10-15 minutes. In such a short space of time, Varma presents us with a beautifully nuanced character, both relatable and unique. We first perceive Sudha as a sweet little woman, quite shy and yet filled with a childlike excitement to tell the audience about herself. Perhaps this is Varma’s way of affirming Sudha’s daily experiences – she knows that she can be seen as quite peculiar, which makes her emotional turn all the more surprising and impactful. Society never expects brown women to be loud about their pain or their passions. As observers, instead of allowing our prejudices to keep others invisible, we must challenge these ways of thinking and uplift the voices of those fighting to be heard. Over the course of the play, in line with Varma’s metaphor of metamorphosis, we see Sudha talking herself (and us!) into realising the full extent of herself, and it is a joy to watch.
Diaries hold an incredible amount of significance for all people, particularly those of us from rich cultural backgrounds. When we write, our thoughts can go freely, no structure, total honesty. And alongside writing a diary, what better medium to express your true self than through theatre? Varma has created a loveable character, someone filled with happiness and artistry, yet still not quite fulfilled. Sudha celebrates the beauty of South Asian culture while also longing to be free from the confines of family obligations (“wife” and “mother”). Within the short runtime there is a fully-fledged, complex, brilliantly-written and acted story containing a multitude of emotions. Every word, facial expression, and gesture counts. Well done, Shilpa Varma – from one brown person to another, I loved this play so much!
South Asian culture is truly magical, as are brown women – they are not flies on the wall, or cracks in the ceiling. They infuse life with flavour and humour and colour and passion. Diary, and Shilpa Varma, must not go unnoticed. Though Varma may only be five feet tall, she is reaching for the stars.
Lovely ❤️