Chai with Rai

If this isn't the most Musical episode then I don't know what is!

I would like to set a challenge of counting how many impromptu singing moments there are in the episode and the correct answer gets a £10 Nando's Gift Card ;). 

Such a joy discussing acting, music and entrepreneurship with Actor & Musician Kush Khanna. 

Topics Breakdown: 

• Discussing Projects such as  - Lime Green/ Boogieman/ Temple/ Patiala House
• Prep work fo...

I love a giddy chat and this was that! 

Firstly, this episode is also available as Video so check that out now on Spotify and Youtube. Secondly, this is going to be a 2-parted episode because we had too much to talk about. 

Soooooo- Enjoy part 1 with the beaut Actor and Musician Kush Khanna. Discussing all things music, family, friendships, spirituality and more. 

Topics Breakdown: 

• Can you Improv Tho?-  x4 Quick Questions set ...

Firstly, I am on a hunt for a new Chai recipe so erm please can you slide into the DM's and let me know of any new recipe's and flavours to try. 

Secondly! What a joy to get to talk with the cast & crew from the play "Permission" at The Space in London. We discussed all things representation, ACE Funding, reflections on the play and its content but also the approach to writing and acting - as well team work. 

A lot of nuggets i...

Such a bold and beautiful chat with Director, Producer and Artist Jordi. M Carter on how culture and the industry shapes us. How we are working to find our identity and placement, how we can be in service to art and the artists. 

Topics Breakdown: 

• When was the most euphoric or happiest you were in your job?
• Walk away Lessons learnt from the following: Young Vic Associates , Theatre Peckham Young and Boundless and how did oppor...

The Final part with Gurkiran Kaur as we discuss Kundalini Yoga, South Asian work in UK theatre, voice and dialect coaching andddd of course GAMES!

Topics Breakdown:

• Approach and pathway into Gurkiran's Voice/ Dialect Coaching.
• How does your practice challenge or Better you work as an actor? And do you feel like you have a balance of it sometimes? Even from a sustainable perspective? 
• Transparent conversations around programming...

This is going to be a two-parted episode as we had so much to talk on from voice coaching to the culture of British South Asian Theatre and more!

Such a joy to speak with actor and Voice/Dialect Coach Gurkiran Kaur . 

Topics Breakdown:

• Can you Improv though-Warm up games set to 4 timing settings. 
• How did she get into acting and where did that passion stem from?
• Difference mentally, financially and experience wise from first ac...

It all went down in the underworld!

From discussing spirituality, placement of your craft as an artist, career trajectory, mindset of being a creative. To the love for the exquisite premium vanilla that is Taylor Swift and everything in between. T'was a joy to share a cuppa with the exuberant soul that is Zachary James. 

Topics Breakdown: 

• Can you Improv though-Warm up games set to 4 timing settings. 
• Hadestown-  Where do you f...

We are back with delicious and juicy interviews and what a lineup I have coming for you babsies. 

Warm up your cuppa because actor and writer Zakiyyah Deen is in the building and we spill it all. From discussing Why a Black Woman will never be a Prime Minister of the UK to how to pitch your theatre projects and your boundaries as an artist. 

Topics breakdown: 

• Can you Improv though- New Warm up games.
• Zakiyyah's current play- "...

Grabbed a cuppa with the talented Ra'eesah to discuss her writing process for "38%" an audio story for the series Symphonies of Beaded Threads. We also discussed her unique voice as an artist, organisational make up of the theatre industry and of course poetry. 

Also, with this I conclude the series of discussing BTS stuff and more with the writers behind Symphonies of Beaded Threads. I hope you enjoyed it and more to come! 

About ...

Sat down with the wordsmith that is Riana Howarth to discuss a blossoming  and emerging career in theatre and more. We also dove into her audio story "She'd Sit" from the audio series "Symphonies of Beaded Threads"-  the experience of writing that and what she hopes the listeners take from it. 

About Riana:

Riana is an aspiring writer and illustrator with a curiosity for all/most things weird and wonderful. With a background in act...

Had such a wonderful time discussing community and opportunity as freelance writers in the industry with the wonderful Gayathiri Kamalakanthan. And of course we discussed the writing process for the audio story "Chemo in the Summer". 

About Gayathiri:

Gayathiri is a Tamil poet and sex education facilitator. They’re interested in how language shapes childhood and how we use it to queer the future. Gayathiri won the Faber & Andly...

I have to say and say it I will! If you are a writer! You must and you must listen to structure and how just telling this conversation is especially if you are an emerging writer. So many great antidotes to take and implement into your world. 

Sitting down with the stunning Bethany Gemmell to discuss writing and how a world is created and how "Catherine" was made for Symphonies of Beaded Threads . 

About Bethany: 

Bethany Henry Gem...

The incredible soul that is Yasmine Dankwah sat down and discussed her process of storytelling, YouTube rabbit holes and of course Spoken word vs poetry. 

Here is the link to Yasmine's short story titled "An Epic: as told by my grandma’s photo album " for Symphonies of Beaded Threads 

About Yasmine: 

Yasmine Dankwah is a British-Ghanaian spoken word artist and writer based in South London. She is interested in exploring how resista...

Finally and I mean Finally managed to get Carmina Bernhardt for an intevrview. Carrying on with the series we grabbed a cuppa and discussed the inspiration behind Carmina's piece "Brainfreeze" from the audio series "Symphonies of Beaded Threads" and her love of cats and more!

About Carmina:

Carmina Bernhardt is a Vancouver-born and London-based actor, writer, director, script reader, and coach for stage and screen. Graduated with D...

Carrying on with the interview series with the writers from "Symphonies of Beaded Threads" diving into the mind of Afriya- Jasmine Nylander. who wrote the short story titled "Professional Daydreamer".  

About Afriya:

Afriya-Jasmine Nylander is a Writer, Actor and Producer based in West London. She studied Theatre at the Brit School where she performed Shakespeare at Stratford-Upon-Avon, was chosen for the NSDF Festival 2021, and wa...

Excited to be releasing an interview series with the the writers from the short audio storytelling series on Chai with Rai "Symphonies of Beaded Threads". Let's warm up that delicious cuppa and dive into it with Soria Hamidi who wrote "Take my Picture" 

About Soria:

Soria Hamidi is an Afghan playwright, prose fiction writer and dramaturg. Her work focuses on silenced histories, communities and people by exploring the stories throug...

Getting into more deep chatter and games with the one and only Vidya Patel. Enjoy part 2 and you can also now listen to Part 1 HERE. 

In the episode we discuss:

• Culture of Dance commissioning. 
• A tip on being financial savvy.
• A tip on funding, application how to get things done . 
• A tip on dance artists transitioning into facilitation or choreographing or movement direction?
• 3 things the dance culture be it South Asian led or o...

This is going to be a two-parted episode BECAUSE I just had to dive into this brilliant human's mind.

Got to speak with the incredible Choreographer, Movement artist and wonderful human that is Vidya Patel. From connecting on Gujarati sayings to discussing decoding Classical Indian dance, it's access, Uday Shankar and so much more! This is a jam packed one. 

In the episode we discuss:

• Creation exploration? What is it you look f...