After a year's break due to lockdown, Prayas Theatre has returned with the third instalment in their annual anthology series, First World Problems 3.0. The 2021 edition, written during lockdown and devised earlier this year, is the first I've seen, but the first two entries have been the types of shows to quickly build word-of-mouth buzz and are still spoken of highly.
Eighteen South Asian and Spanish migrant actors make up this year's cast, working with six new scripted and devised pieces, directed by FWP mastermind Sananda Chatterjee. The rapid pace of the show gives little room for an elaborate set, but Natasha Iyer's simple design allows the performers to take centre stage, as the stories hone in on a variety of diverse experiences.
The opening piece, Pearly Shells by Mereana Latimer, starts the evening on a high and remains the standout by the end. Ayesha Heble stars as Vani, a woman losing her memory and stuck in the past, unable to remember her own daughter and waiting for her sons to return home. It's brief but moving, telling a deep, complete story in a short amount of time, and Heble's performance – aided by Sudeepta Vyas as her daughter Pearl – creates an instant connection.
The piece starts a recurring motif of movement and dance that weaves through many of the other performances, particularly the recurring segment Don't Go Under the Bridge, and scripted piece Mirror, which features the night's other standout performance from Narme Deva as a woman reflecting on her past and familial connections with moving results.
