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A Tupperware of Ashes

a new play by Tanika Gupta

A blurred or shaken photo of a woman (Meera Syal), smiling and wearing gold jewellry and a blue dress.

Booking and details

25 September — 16 November 2024
This show has now ended
The event location is

Dorfman Theatre

National Theatre
South Bank
London SE1 9PX

I’m falling through a world which makes no sense

An ambitious Michelin-Star chef, Queenie is used to having the last word.

But when her children notice gaps in her memory and her grip on reality loosening, they are faced with an impossible choice. As Raj, Gopal and Kamala battle to reconcile their life-long duty to their mother, the ramifications of their decision take on a heartbreaking permanence.

Tanika Gupta (A Doll’s House, Lyric Hammersmith) and Pooja Ghai (Artistic Director of Tamasha Theatre Company) reunite for their latest collaboration, following the critically acclaimed The Empress.

Meera Syal is Queenie in this vivid and heart-breaking family drama about life, immigration and the Indian spiritual cycle of death and rebirth.

Performed 25 September — 16 November 2024 in the Dorfman Theatre.

Reviews

★★★★★

‘Meera Syal as Queenie is especially potent’

WhatsOnStage

★★★★

‘A searing production’

Guardian

★★★★

‘Meera Syal is deeply persuasive’

Telegraph

★★★★

‘Powerful … evocative

The Stage

★★★★

‘Honest, tender and moving’

Financial Times

★★★★

‘Entertaining, informative and affecting’

Broadway World

6

Suitability

Please note: This production contains smoke, haze, bright and sudden lights and moments of total blackout. It contains discriminatory language, references to racism and moments of violence/threatened violence, as well as themes of death, grief, abortion, cremation, dementia and Alzheimer’s, including references and depictions of Covid and care homes.

More advice and guidance

Supporters

This play is a recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New Plays Award.

Video

A photo of a woman (Meera Syal), smiling and wearing gold jewellery and a blue dress.
Play Video

Watch the trailer

Play Video
A person is smiling warmly, wearing glasses, a white shirt, and a black sweater vest. They stand against a gradient blue background with hands clasped together.
Play Video

Integrated BSL Performances

Play Video

Gallery

A person stands on a stage adorned with fog and dramatic lighting. They are wearing a dark outfit with a contrasting red scarf. Behind them, the backdrop features horizontal lines and a textured, soft gradient.
A person stands on a stage adorned with fog and dramatic lighting. They are wearing a dark outfit with a contrasting red scarf. Behind them, the backdrop features horizontal lines and a textured, soft gradient.
A person stands on a stage adorned with fog and dramatic lighting. They are wearing a dark outfit with a contrasting red scarf. Behind them, the backdrop features horizontal lines and a textured, soft gradient.
View 9 images
Four actors stand on stage in dramatic lighting. One holds a baby. They are wearing casual clothing and appear engaged in conversation. The backdrop is simple with horizontal lines, suggesting an abstract setting. Two people are lying on a rug, one in blue clothing, leaning against the other in blue patterned trousers and a white vest. The person in front is holding and reading from a book with a colourful cover. The scene is warmly lit. Two people are on stage in an emotional scene. A woman crouches, looking distressed, while a man sits behind her, holding her shoulders and comforting her. The setting has minimal background props. Two women sit on wooden steps, both wearing cream-coloured bathrobes. One holds a wine glass and smiles, while the other gestures with her hand. A bottle of wine and another glass are beside them. The backdrop is a warmly lit, minimalist setting. Four people are having a discussion in an office setting. One person is sitting on a chair and showing a document to a seated woman who is writing. Two other people stand behind them, attentively watching. A man leans towards a woman sitting in a green chair, holding her hand and engaging in a serious conversation. The woman, wearing a blue patterned dress, gazes back at him with a thoughtful expression. Two women stand facing each other on a stage. The woman on the left holds a tablet, wearing a blue patterned tunic and black pants. The woman on the right wears a chef's coat, striped trousers, a pink hijab, and holds a blue folder. A rug and table are in the background. A person sits in an armchair in the foreground under a spotlight, looking contemplative. Behind, four silhouetted figures stand against an illuminated blue backdrop with abstract lines. A small table with a flower vase is next to the armchair.

Production images

A woman with short black hair sits with her arms crossed, holding a brown and black handbag on her lap. She is wearing a black long-sleeve top and black pants. She looks to her left, appearing thoughtful. The background is an indoor setting with bright lighting and wooden panels.
A woman with short black hair sits with her arms crossed, holding a brown and black handbag on her lap. She is wearing a black long-sleeve top and black pants. She looks to her left, appearing thoughtful. The background is an indoor setting with bright lighting and wooden panels.
A woman with short black hair sits with her arms crossed, holding a brown and black handbag on her lap. She is wearing a black long-sleeve top and black pants. She looks to her left, appearing thoughtful. The background is an indoor setting with bright lighting and wooden panels.
View 11 images
Two men are engaged in a deep conversation. The man on the left gestures with his hand while the man on the right holds a pen and an open book. They are sitting against a backdrop of wooden paneling. Two women are engaged in an intense interaction. The woman on the left, dressed in a green top and jeans, is reaching out to the woman on the right, who is dressed in black. The background consists of a paneled wooden wall and a white ceiling. A man sits on a green box, holding an open book. He is wearing a green t-shirt and black pants, and is looking off to the side. There are a couple of colorful cushions on a nearby green and beige box, and gray curtains are visible in the background. Two people sit and converse at a wooden table. Behind them are stacked boxes labeled with various names. Yellow flowers in a vase and a few rolled-up yoga mats are also visible. The setting appears casual and friendly, possibly a relaxed meeting or workshop setup. A man in an orange shirt and brown pants holds a script and sits on a green block, looking thoughtful. Another man in a green shirt and jeans stands in the background with his hands on his hips. They appear to be in a brightly lit rehearsal space with wooden walls. A person with a beard in a peach shirt is sitting and looking at a book, while another person with long hair in a blue blouse stands beside them, speaking. Both are in an indoor setting with a neutral background. A woman with gray hair, wearing a green shirt and jeans, kneels on the floor with a notepad and pen, intently writing. She has glasses resting on her head. In the background, a man in a pink shirt and brown pants stands, slightly blurred against a wooden wall. A man with a gray beard is sitting on a red chair, smiling and looking to his right. He is wearing a navy blue and white polo shirt and beige shorts. The background is a plain wall with a small portion of a table visible on the left. A woman with long dark hair stands confidently with hands on her hips. She is wearing a striped T-shirt and beige high-waisted trousers. The background features wooden panelling and a softly lit interior space. A woman with dark hair in a ponytail stands in front of a wooden wall. She is wearing a black and white striped shirt and blue jeans, looking off to the side with a cheerful expression, her right hand resting under her chin.

Rehearsal images

Cast includes

Raj Bajaj
Raj Bajaj photo portrait

Raj Bajaj

Raj

Natalie Dew
Natalie Dew photo portrait

Natalie Dew

Kamala

Marc Elliott
Marc Elliott photo portrait

Marc Elliott

Gopal

Stephen Fewell
Stephen Fewell photo portrait

Stephen Fewell

Doctor Young / Jeff / Pavel / Paramedic 1 / Security Guard

Shobna Gulati
Shobna Gulati photo portrait

Shobna Gulati

Indrani

Avita Jay
Avita Jay photo portrait

Avita Jay

Jamila / Sanjivini / Bureaucrat / Nurse / Care Worker / Paramedic 2

Meera Syal
Meera Syal photo portrait

Meera Syal

Queenie

Zubin Varla
Zubin Varla photo portrait

Zubin Varla

Ameet

Artistic team

Writer

Tanika Gupta

Tanika Gupta

Director

Pooja Ghai

Pooja Ghai

Set and Costume Designer

Rosa Maggiora

Rosa Maggiora

Lighting Designer

Matt Haskins

Matt Haskins

Composer

Nitin Sawhney

Nitin Sawhney

Sound Designer

Elena Peña

Elena Peña

Illusions Director and Designer

John Bulleid

John Bulleid

Movement Director

Anjali Mehra

Anjali Mehra

Fight and Intimacy Director

Rachel Bown-Williams of Rc-Annie Ltd

Rachel Bown-Williams of Rc-Annie Ltd

Fight and Intimacy Director

Ruth Cooper-Brown of Rc-Annie Ltd

Ruth Cooper-Brown of Rc-Annie Ltd

Music Associate

David Shrubsole

David Shrubsole

Casting Director

Naomi Downham

Naomi Downham

Dialect Coach

Hazel Holder

Hazel Holder

Voice Coach

Tamsin Newlands

Tamsin Newlands

Staff Director

Layla Madanat

Layla Madanat

What’s on

What's on guide

Download a pdf of the latest guide (2MB)

Download a pdf of the latest guide in Alternative format (1.4MB)

 

Shop

Visit the Shop website for a wide range of playtexts, gifts and prints of past production posters.

TUPPERWARE is a registered trade mark owned by Dart Industries Inc. Its inclusion does not constitute any association with, or endorsement or sponsorship by, Dart Industries Inc.

 

Photography (Meera Syal) by Tami Aftab.