Interview: Ishy Din on WIPERS

Honouring the contribution of the million South Asian soldiers who fought alongside the British during World War I, celebrated playwright Ishy Din presents his powerful new play, Wipers, at the Belgrade Theatre Coventry later this month. The show premiered at Curve, Leicester last month is currently on a short UK tour. BWW:UK speaks to writer Ishy Din about the show.

Please can you give a short synopsis of what the show is about.

Wipers tells of the contribution made by Indian and South Asian soldiers in The First World War. It's the story of four men during the first battle of Ypres who are sent back from the frontline to secure a barn while their friend Khudadad Khan is left to fight off the advancing German line. Over the course of the night they have to confront their fears and prejudices to survive. It's based around the true story of Khudadad, who was the first South Asian soldier to win the VC for an incredible act of heroism. He stayed and fought at his post for ten hours as all his comrades died around him. He held the Germans off long enough for reinforcements to arrive and defended a vital northern sea port and supply line for the British forces.

As the play is based on a true story, there needs to be a careful balance of fact and fiction. How have you made sure of this?

Once I'd met the family of Kuhdadad Khan and researched him I knew I'd find it really difficult to put him at the centre of the action. All great drama and great characters require twisting and turning and I just really didn't feel comfortable making things up about such a revered character. So that's when I decided to set this play in the background while he carries out his acts of heroism on the battlefield. The story of Kuhdadad Khan, The Battle of Ypres, the first 70,000 men who first came to Europe and those soldiers' experiences are all fact. The idea of the four soldiers in the barn was from my own imagination and I felt it would allow me a really interesting environment to explore these characters and the issues.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

For Wipers, I really drew inspiration from my research. I knew little about the contribution South Asian soldiers had made in the war. I was aware, but it was very vague. Once I dug in I was just blown away. There was over 700,000 dead and more than 1.5 million troops who fought as part of the war effort. The more I researched their stories the more I was inspired to write mine. Generally, I draw my inspiration from things I've read or seen, conversations I've overheard. It could be something that gets me angry. Inspiration comes from all around: in the unlikeliest places and at the unlikeliest of times.

How did you find working with director Suba Das?

Suba has been a great champion of me and my work right from the beginning, so it was great to get the phone call asking if I'd write a new play for Curve about Indian soldiers. It's been a real partnership with Suba in the development process. There's been a lot of talking and a lot of hard-work. He's an incredible director with a great knowledge of theatre. As a writer you can go snow-blind but Suba always gave constructive and insightful feedback into the various drafts. He really helped me shape the story and I'd go as far to say the whole thing would be somewhat lesser if he wasn't involved. We're both really passionate about the subject. I think anyone with a South Asian heritage will get passionate; especially, with the current rhetoric around immigrants and their contribution to Great Britain. It's a story that's been criminally untold and it's so important we highlight these stories of empire.

You have had an exceptional few years professionally. What are your ambitions for the future?

I've had a pretty intense couple of years writing Wipers! I've got a couple of TV and movie projects in the pipeline and a really incredible project I'm working on with Gurinder Chandha. But on the whole, I just like to keep writing and telling stories in any form; whether that be cinema, TV or on the stage. I already have a few ideas that would work really well as theatre pieces.

Wipers is currently playing at Watford Palace Theatre and runs until 7 May before opening at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry from 12-21 May 2016.

Photo credit: Pamela Raith

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