Period Parrrty: A Coming-of-Age Story with a Twist of Identity and Culture
The British Tamil debut play Period Parrrty, written by Gayathiri Kamalakanthan, tells a universal coming-of-age story but also serves as a bold exploration of Tamil history and identity. The narrative revolves around Krish, a 15-year-old non-binary teenager struggling to disclose their true self to their family.
Kamalakanthan's writing oscillates between naturalistic scenes and unconventional techniques such as direct address and recorded interviews, which sometimes disrupt the cohesion of the play. However, the strong bond between Krish and their best friend Brenavee provides a warm anchor for the production. The chemistry between Elizabeth Green and Tanvi Virmani is undeniable, and their portrayal of an unrequited love adds depth to the narrative.
The set design by Katie Scott is visually stunning, adapting seamlessly from different locations within the play. Gitika Buttoo's direction masterfully handles the transitions, making it difficult not to be moved by the poignant moments. The comedic relief provided by Kamalakanthan's writing as Krish navigates generational misunderstandings with their mother, Brintha, adds humor to the production.
What truly sets Period Parrrty apart is its emotional resonance. Gitika Buttoo's production expertly tugs at the heartstrings, delivering a tender and delicate exploration of self-discovery. The play humanizes the complexities of identity, cultural heritage, and family dynamics, creating a bridge between generations and backgrounds.
The British Tamil debut play Period Parrrty, written by Gayathiri Kamalakanthan, tells a universal coming-of-age story but also serves as a bold exploration of Tamil history and identity. The narrative revolves around Krish, a 15-year-old non-binary teenager struggling to disclose their true self to their family.
Kamalakanthan's writing oscillates between naturalistic scenes and unconventional techniques such as direct address and recorded interviews, which sometimes disrupt the cohesion of the play. However, the strong bond between Krish and their best friend Brenavee provides a warm anchor for the production. The chemistry between Elizabeth Green and Tanvi Virmani is undeniable, and their portrayal of an unrequited love adds depth to the narrative.
The set design by Katie Scott is visually stunning, adapting seamlessly from different locations within the play. Gitika Buttoo's direction masterfully handles the transitions, making it difficult not to be moved by the poignant moments. The comedic relief provided by Kamalakanthan's writing as Krish navigates generational misunderstandings with their mother, Brintha, adds humor to the production.
What truly sets Period Parrrty apart is its emotional resonance. Gitika Buttoo's production expertly tugs at the heartstrings, delivering a tender and delicate exploration of self-discovery. The play humanizes the complexities of identity, cultural heritage, and family dynamics, creating a bridge between generations and backgrounds.
! elizabeth green & tanvi virmani's perf as Krish & Brenavee are goals 
they brought so much chemistry to the stage its like u cant look away from them 
. i love how gitika buttoo directed it, she really captured the emotions of the characters & made me feel all the feels 
. and kudos to gayathiri kamalakanthan for writing a story that tackles identity & culture in such a thoughtful way 
its not just a coming-of-age story, its about embracing who u r & where u come from 
i'm obsessed w/ this play 
. I'm also loving the mix of humor and heart in this play - it's not all easy, but it feels real 
! The themes of identity and culture were handled with such care and nuance, it really made me think about my own heritage and family dynamics 
. I'm so glad this play is out there, shedding light on important topics and reminding us that we're all connected in ways we might not even realize 
.
. And can we talk about the cast? Elizabeth Green and Tanvi Virmani, they slayed their roles 
. The set design was fire 
too! I love how it transported us to different locations, it felt like we were right there with Krish 
. What I love most about this play is that it's not just a story about identity and culture, it's a reminder that family dynamics are universal 
. Can't wait to see more of Gayathiri Kamalakanthan's work! 
IT REALLY HAD ME THINKING ABOUT HOW OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE INFLUENCES US IN WAYS WE MAY NOT EVEN BE AWARE OF. 
THE CAST WAS AMAZING TOO - ELIZABETH AND TANVI JUST KILLED IT ON SCREEN!!! 
AND THAT SET DESIGN?!?! WOWWWW... I COULDN'T STOP STARING AT IT! 
honestly the play Period Parrrty had some cool ideas but for me the format kinda got in the way 
, like i loved that Krish's mom was so clueless about her daughter's identity 
but sometimes the interviews felt forced 
and made me feel like i was stuck in a therapy session instead of watching a play 
. the set design tho was on point 
would've been nice to see more of it throughout the production, not just when they were switching locations 
overall though, the cast did an amazing job bringing these characters to life 
and it's giving me ALL THE FEELS 
. As someone who's grown up with social media being a huge part of my life (remember when Instagram was still just for filtering selfies? 
), it's wild to see how far we've come in accepting people's identities. The way the play tackles the struggles Krish faces as a non-binary teenager is so relatable, especially growing up in the early 2000s 
. I loved how the set design brought the different locations to life, it felt so immersive! 