Past productions.

Shunya Theatre’s 2025 production of A Nice Indian Boy, written by Madhuri Shekar and directed by Anjana Menon, brought a fresh, joyful story of queer love and family expectations to the Houston stage. The play follows Naveen Gavaskar, who meets Keshav—a Hindi‑speaking, Bollywood‑loving man who happens to be white—at a temple and brings him home just as his sister Arundhathi returns with surprising news of her own. As the Gavaskar family navigates clashing ideas about duty, tradition, and what a “proper” Indian wedding should look like, Shekar’s comedy explores love and marriage in today’s Desi diaspora, ten years after Shunya first read the play aloud in 2015. The cast featured Taher Lokhandwala (Naveen), John Dunn (Keshav), Indira Kapoor (Megha), Shiva Juturi (Archit), and Tejal Master (Arundhati). The production team included Nidhi Verghese (Assistant Director/Stage Manager), Kanu Priya (Assistant Stage Manager), Andrew Roblyer (Lighting, Sound Design & Intimacy Direction), Anjana Menon (Costume & Set Design), and carpenters Edgar Guajardo and Johnny Halliburton, with additional marketing support from Ananya Agarwal, Anuja Bedi, and Lubaina Latif‑Dubey. Presented at Studio 101, the show marked Shunya’s return after a long hiatus.

Shunya Theatre’s 2017 production of The Waiting Room, written by Tanika Gupta and directed by Bree Bridger, invited audiences into the Bannerji family’s home as they confronted grief, memory, and the unfinished conversations that linger after loss. The cast featured Lubaina Latif‑Dubey (Priya Bannerji), Khurram Hamid and Nipun Kakkar (Dilip Kumar), Anvesh Yalamachili (Akash), Sriram Vengalathur (Firoz), Siva Juturi (Pradip), and Saumya Rana (Tara). The production team included Sanjay Mediwala (Producer), Neha Singhal (Stage Manager), Lee Barker (Set Design), Kris Phelps (Lighting Design), and John Peeples (Sound Design). Originally scheduled to open at The MATCH in late August 2017, the run was interrupted by Hurricane Harvey; the show was later restaged for audiences from October 26–29, 2017.

Shunya Theatre opened its 2014 season with A Widow of No Importance, a sharp and humorous play by Shane Sakhrani that subverts the familiar “widowed ma” trope of Indian cinema. The story follows Deepa, a 50‑something widow expected to devote herself solely to arranging her daughter Tara’s marriage—until Deepa unexpectedly finds herself on her own journey of rediscovery, challenging societal expectations and the limits placed on widowed women. Performed at Studio 101 from March 28 to April 6, 2014, the production continued Shunya’s long-standing commitment to showcasing South Asian stories and artists in Houston, offering audiences a lively and heartfelt exploration of independence, ambition, and second chances.

Shunya Theatre’s 2014 production of Bhopal, written by Rahul Varma and directed by dianne k webb, was performed at Studio 101 and brought together a wide ensemble of Houston artists to dramatize the events surrounding the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster. The cast featured Deeba Ashraf (Izzat), Karthik Chander (Devraj), Prateek Karkal (Chief Minister Jaganlal Bhandari), Brandon Hobratschk (Pascal Sauvé), Charanya Ravikumar (Madiha), Laura Schlecht (Sonya Labonté), and Sam Stengler (Anderson), with an introductory Bharatanatyam/Bollywood fusion performance by Bhageshri Karkal and live tabla by Jason Zinn. The production team included Sanjay Mediwala (Producer), Sunny Sinha (Assistant Director/Stage Manager), Drew Hoovler (Scenic Design & Set Builder), Kris Phelps (Lighting Design), Kanchan Kabad (Costume Design), Ruchi Sinha (Graphic Artist), Arzan Patel Gonda (Choreography), and dianne k webb (Sound Design), with additional support from Mandar Sane, Anjana Menon, and a marketing team led by Sampada Chavan Dalvi, Ruchi Sinha, and Charanya Ravikumar. Supported by Houston Arts Alliance, Rhythm India, and Suchu Dance, Bhopal continued Shunya’s mission of presenting powerful South Asian stories on Houston stages.

Shunya Theatre’s 2014 youth production of The Jungle Book, adapted by Stuart Paterson and directed by Sunny Sinha and Sara Kumar, offered a lively retelling of the classic tale with with song‑and‑dance routines and a live band! Performed at The Barn from August 8–17, 2014, the show marked Shunya’s second youth production.

Two geniuses. Two worlds. One maddening riddle. Partition, by Ira Hauptman, is a riveting fantasy based on real events. The play dramatizes the 1913 encounter between the Indian mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan and Cambridge professor G. H. Hardy. While mathematics first unites these two men across a vast cultural divide, it ultimately threatens to destroy them.

Directed by Sara Kumar, the production featured Taher Lokhandwala, John Kaiser, Anjana Menon, Bradley Winkler, and Jeff Dorman. It ran August 2-18, 2013 (Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 3pm) at 14 Pews, 800 Aurora Street, Houston, TX 77009, with a running time of about two hours including a 10-minute intermission.

Serge buys a painting: white, five feet by four, with some faint white diagonal lines. Marc thinks it's a joke and says so. Yvan tries to keep the peace and fails. Over one canvas, fifteen years of friendship among three men get renegotiated line by line.

Shunya Theatre’s 2012 production of Art, by Yasmina Reza (translated by Christopher Hampton) and directed by dianne k. webb, brought this razor‑sharp comedy of aesthetics and ego to the intimate setting of Studio 101 at Spring Street Studios. The cast featured Asif Sayani as Marc, Prateek Karkal as Serge, and Karthik Chander as Yvan, whose unraveling friendship forms the heart of Reza’s celebrated play. The production team included Anjana Menon (Assistant Director), Sanjay Mediwala (Producer), Kevin Holden (Lighting Design), William Hesser (Sound Design), Thomas Helton (Music Composition), and Sarita Panchang (Lighting Tech, Sound Tech, Set Manager), with set construction by Gary Motal and Julio Cabrera. Supported by the Houston Arts Alliance, Art ran May 4 - 13, 2012.

Hanuman is tired of being laughed at for telling fairy tales, so he tells the biggest one he knows: his own story, from the creation of the world to an adventure fit for a king. Aditi Kapil's musical retelling of the monkey god's epic, staged with song, dance, and live music.

For this production, Shunya Theatre partnered with Infused Performing Arts, a Bollywood dance school based in Stafford, whose artistic directors Kiron Kumar and Tina Bose brought over a decade of choreographic expertise.

The show opened August 3, 2012, with performances on August 3 and 10 at 8 PM and on August 4, 5, 11, and 12 at 3 PM at Barnevelder Movement Arts, 2201 Preston Street, Houston, TX 77003. Tickets were $18.

Shunya Theatre opened its 2011 season with 1‑888‑DIAL‑INDIA, a sharp and hilarious comedy about outsourcing and the “New India,” written by Anuvab Pal and directed by Sriram Vengalathur. Performed at Barnevelder Movement Arts from February 4–13, 2011, the play followed Mumbai entrepreneur Arun Gupta (AbhiRoy Cheema) as he attempts to build the next Google by outsourcing an American suicide hotline, aided by his employees Ramesh (Prateek Karkal) and Reshmi (Jesal Kapasi). Pal’s farcical script skewered cultural disconnects, call‑center Americana, and the chaotic optimism of a rapidly changing India, while also raising thoughtful questions about identity, family, and globalization. The production was supported by the Houston Arts Alliance and the City of Houston.

Critical praise: "If I haven't made it clear thus far, I'll say it here, 1-888-DIAL-INDIA is a must watch!" - Desi-Living.com. "This plucky Outsourced send-up entertains with hilarious culture clashes and sardonic stereotypes, while raising an important ethical dilemma." - Locution 1.0.

The Prophet and the Poet is based on the exchange of letters and articles between Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore over a period of 25 years, with the Indian freedom struggle as the backdrop. Written by Vijay Padaki and directed by Yaksha Bhatt, the play was developed through the Academy of Theatre Arts, part of the Bangalore Little Theatre Foundation, which also arranged its production.

The script drew on archival research and was compiled from a manuscript by Shailesh Parekh, which was subsequently published as "Gandhi Vs. Tagore" by Viswa Bharati in 2010. The production premiered at significant cultural sites, including Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram on January 30, 2009, followed by performances at Visva Bharati University in Santiniketan and Tagore's historic residence at Jora Sanko.

The Houston staging was presented in celebration of Rabindranath Tagore's 150th birthday and Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, with support from the Tagore Society of Houston and other organizations.

Just as Dr. Sunil Ahuja is preparing to face down his greatest rival in the India Association, a tsunami sweeps South Asia. But every disaster leaves an opportunity for those bold enough to take it!

Written by Sujit Saraf and directed by Yaksha Bhatt, the production explores the politics of nonprofit organizations and examines what happens when self-interest overtakes charitable intentions. It marked Shunya Theatre's comeback production, staged April 3-12 at Barnevelder Movement Arts (8pm Fridays and Saturdays, 3pm Sundays).

As part of Gandhi Jayanthi celebrations, Shunya Theatre, in association with the Gandhi Library, presents a short play reenactment of the Salt Satyagraha. The event was held at the Miller Outdoor Theatre from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, the 5th of October 2008.

The production was written and directed by Yaksha Bhatt and produced by Karthik Chander, with Karthik Chander appearing as Mohandas Gandhi and Namita Sutaria as Sarojini Naidu, supported by an ensemble playing reporters, police officers, and satyagrahees (protesters).

Naga-Mandala: Play with a Cobra, by Girish Karnad and directed by Soham Mehta and Sara Kumar. Combining two traditional Indian oral tales, Naga Mandala features a story-within-a-story. A cursed playwright must stay awake all night in the temple, and as he attempts to do so he meets the spirit of a Story who slipped out of an old woman's mouth as she snored. The Story tells of a young bride who is neglected by her indifferent husband and attempts to win his affection with a love potion; instead, she enchants a King Cobra who begins to visit her every night while her husband is away.

The production featured original music by the Shunya musicians and dance choreography by Mahira, and was performed in cooperation with Stages Repertory Theatre. It was staged at Stages Repertory Theatre (3201 Allen Parkway, Houston, TX 77019) from February 9th through February 25th, with performances Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 3 PM.

Italian American Reconciliation, written by John Patrick Shanley and directed by Ninaad Vaidya, is a romantic comedy. "Love has not been kind to Huey Maximillian Bonfigliano. Bereft of his wife, he has taken to the arts, but bad poetry and worse clothing can't replace his ex." Huey sets out to win back his estranged wife Janice, despite the fact that she once killed his dog, and over the objections of his best friend Aldo and his girlfriend Teresa, in a story that builds to a comedic balcony scene.

The play explores the idea that the greatest, and only, success is to be able to love. It was performed March 10-19, 2006, at the Gray Wolf Theatre, 12440 Oxford Park Drive, Houston, TX 77082, with performances Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 3 PM.

For The Talk, Shunya invited community members to compose 10-15 minute pieces centered on the idea of "The TALK." From twenty submissions, eight were selected and paired with directors and performers. Some are funny, some are tragic, each exploring a different interpretation of what "The TALK" means to its creator.

Written by Soham Mehta, Sara Kumar, Amit A. Patel, Jesal Kapasi, Elisabeth Cutrer, Mansi Master, Viraj Mane, and Jonathon John, and directed by Sriram VT, Artee Kumar, Kanchan Phalak, Phil Redman, Dilip Kapasi, Alice Fulks, Taj Ahmad, and Suhas Verma. The production featured over 30 new and familiar faces.

Performances ran August 18-27 (Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 3 PM) at DiverseWorks Art Space, 1117 East Freeway, I-10 at North Main, Houston, TX 77002.

Written by Abhijat Joshi and directed by Soham Mehta. Sanjay, a builder, sets out to acquire the house of Sandhya, a former freedom fighter and the widow of the poet Anaamik. At first unyielding, Sandhya strikes a deal with Sanjay. In exchange for the house, Sanjay must resurrect the memory of her deceased husband. Sanjay's search for the poet's lost work uncovers much more than he expects. A freedom fighter's memory, a builder's future, a poet's final lines, and the history of a nation come together over one house: Bricks and Lyrics.

Abhijat Joshi is a screenwriter and award-winning playwright who has written for films including Kareeb and Mission Kashmir. His play "A Shaft of Sunlight" won the BBC World Service playwriting contest, and "Bricks and Lyrics" received a nomination for the David Mark Cohen New Play Award at the Austin Theatre Critics Table 2000-2001.

Performed at Stages Repertory Theatre, 3201 Allen Parkway, Houston, TX 77019, August 19th – September 4th.

Two young men fleeing a mob pound on the door of a house whose family wants nothing to do with them. Over one long night, three generations under that roof are forced to say out loud what they actually believe about each other's religions, and a daughter of the house refuses to let anyone look away. Mahesh Dattani's play about communal hatred and how it gets handed down, directed by Guru Singh. Its question hangs over the whole evening: "How much have we grown to tolerate?"

Dattani is one of India's leading contemporary English-language playwrights. The production ran October 21 - November 6 at DiverseWorks Art Space, 1117 East Freeway, Houston, TX.

Written by Sujata Bhatt and directed by Anil and Rathna Kumar. "Broadcasting live from the Shah Household, here's your host - the fine, the fabulous, Ms. Shilpa Shah!" The play centers on Shilpa, a spunky, immature, self-centered 17-year-old who resists her brother's fiancee Padma and clashes with both her parents. She uses television as an escape, wielding the remote control as if it were a controlling magic wand. Her behavior exposes the family's tensions until a shocking truth from the past brings about a change in her attitude.

Performed at The Ensemble Theatre, 3535 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002. January 21st - February 6th; Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 3 PM.

Shunya presents a play in English written by Girish Karnad, directed by Soham Mehta.

"Kapila! Devadatta! Kapila with Devadatta's body! Devadatta with Kapila's body! Four men in one lifetime." – Padmini

Performed January 16th – February 8th 2004 at 4040 Milam, #390, Houston TX 77006.

Written by Israel Horovitz. Directed by Guru Singh.

The Indian Wants The Bronx was first presented at the Astor Place Theatre in New York City in 1968. It received three Obies for Best Play (Israel Horovitz), Best Actor (Al Pacino) and Best Supporting Actor (John Cazale).

Gupta, who has just arrived from India to visit his son, finds himself lost on his first day in New York City. Two young punks, Joey and Murph, spot him waiting at a bus stop. Joey and Murph begin teasing the Indian man who only speaks a few words of English. As the drama unfolds, the teasing grows more vicious. Games initially construed out of boredom finally result in acts of rage and violence.

Performed at DiverseWorks Art Space, 1117 East Freeway (I-10 at North Main), Houston, TX 77002, July 30th – August 8th 2004.

Aakash Desai, 23, has just moved his parents back to India. He returns to Austin to an empty apartment, a circle of four Indian-American friends in the same unsettled stretch of their twenties, and no ready answer to what his life here is now for. Soham Mehta's original play mixes comedy, drama, and Indian dance.

The 2003 production featured assistant director Shilpi Nagarsheth and stage manager Artee Patel, with a cast including Guru Singh, Vikram Kanodia, Arzan Patel, Tanvi Nagarsheth, Asif Sayani, Radhika Dinavahi, and Richa Dubey.

A 2003 Shunya Theatre production made up of three one-act plays performed in English.

"Without A Script," written and directed by Soham Mehta, featuring Rishi Goswami, Radhika Dinavahi, Ninaad Vaidya, and Soham Mehta. Three actors and a crew member are called to the first rehearsal for a new play, only to arrive and find no script, no playwright, and no director, but there is an audience. "Pahachaan," written and directed by Sara Kumar, featuring Ninaad Vaidya, Chaitan Jain, Artee Kumar, and Preity Bhagia. An American journalist comes to India with his friend to report on Indian food and discovers that his biological mother is Indian; Aaron and Rohan then set out on a journey in search of the lost mother, armed with adoption papers and a photograph. "A Random Act of Kindness," the original Gujarati play "Kudarati" adapted into English by Genéviève Castelino, directed by Yaksha Shah and featuring eight performers. Set among an illiterate group of villagers in a remote part of India, the play raises questions about the meaning of life and explores how humans seem to have lost the ability to be spontaneous.

The run also featured guest performers including Urban Indian Beat, Urban Gypsy, and Gunjen Mittal.