DILJOHN SINGH - Zafar

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Before moving to England to pursue his Degree in Acting from BSA, Diljohn was a professional Actor in India. To date he has been part of Music Videos,  TV commercial, Docu Dramas and About Print Campaigns for various reputed brands which include big names like BMW, Toyota, American Express, Suzuki, Honda , TVS Apache, Coke, Sprite, Bare Denim, Pantaloons, Times of India, LO'real,Reliance Telecommunications, HCL computers etc

Film and Theatre credits include: CHILD OF THE DIVIDE- Manohar Lal/Badtmeez,  - Tamasha Theater, GAUHAR JAAN: THE DATIA INCIDENT – GhettoTigers, MADE - Ali  Target Theatre Company, MADE IN INDIA Tamasha Theatre, THE STATE WE’RE IN – Jay – Southwark Playhouse, THE LAST GOODBYE – Arjun  - Empire Motion pictures, AGATHA RAISIN: THE WALKERS OF DEMPLEY- Khusan – Mammoth Screen, SANJAY & KARISHMA -Vicram Raj Singh  - Padstar Productions.

Waleed is an award winning writer and actor, he won an Olivier for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theater for his play The P Word, and Most Promising Playwright at  The Off West End Awards. He is also a recipient of a MGC Futures bursary and Peggy Ramsey Foundation / Film 4 Playwrights’ Scheme. His short film LOST PARADISE was produced by UK Film Council, and played in festivals across Europe, he has contributed material for Sketchtopia and Newsjack (Radio 4) and Famalam.  Waleed is currently contributing an episode of a new romantic-comedy for an international streamer.

About the PLAYWRIGHT - WALEED AKHTAR

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Photos Gernot Ottowitz & Ine and Thomas Photography

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The history of Phulkari - click on this link

A hereditary embroidery tradition, phulkari was historically practised by women of the Punjab region in present-day India and Pakistan. It is a form of counted-thread embroidery recognised by its neat, regular patterns of geometric and natural motifs, whose name translates to ‘flower work’ in Hindi and Punjabi. Embroidery was traditionally considered an integral skill for women in the region, and phulkari garments came to be closely associated with major events in their lives, particularly marriage. In the medieval and colonial periods, girls would initially learn to embroider small garments like odhinis or scarves for themselves, and as they grew older, produce chaddars or shawls to be handed down to younger generations of women in their families. Phulkari shawls are often gifted to brides on wedding days, especially by maternal relatives.

Director/Producer's Note & Thank You!
 

My first love story: This is my directorial debut of a love story as a straight play. Frankly, I was ready to give up, told my husband I have no season as I cannot find THAT play, and suddenly last minute, there it was. I read it on a plane on my way to London, and I already knew by page 3 this was it. I laughed, cried, people stared! I was grateful...

The Actors..

After gaining the rights, the next journey was finding a cast. It was important to me, the agent, and Waleed Akhtar that it was not whitewashed. All the plays we do at vienna theatre project are a big shout-out to not whitewash the cast, where possible. Diljohn and Raj are both British; Diljohn recently became a British citizen, having to go through the immigration process, and Raj is Asian British. They have taught the whole team cultural knowledge, respect, and brought life to this beautiful play, a story of struggle and an homage to love: bringing music, stories, and ideas that we could never have known on our own, without immense research. I am so deeply grateful to them for having put their trust in me for this show. They have worked so hard to own their characters, we made an often challenging, but lovely, journey together, we are all richer, and they have my deep respect.

The Team and support...

No production is complete without the amazing backstage team, and I can only express once again a huge thanks to Theater Drachengasse for their trust. Gernot Ottowitz and Dave Moskin: this show would be nothing without your efforts - the visuals are gorgeous (I myself sat with a tripod and camera in London for some of them). You have put so much effort in; thank you. Ine & Thomas Photography, hugely supportive so grateful. Also to Michaela Pink and particularly Matthias Vanura, you have the patience of Job: thank you, a production is nothing without your technical know-how. Hannes and Julian thankfully make the impossible possible. And of course, Malin Alexandersson. We have laughed together, cried together, clutched each other's knees in joy and sadness under our table on the other side of the rehearsal room.

To Waleed Akhtar for this beautiful play...Thank you!
 

A huge thanks to my family who haven't seen me in months: you are my rock - and Georgie the dog (he was great in rehearsals). Thank you to Raj and Diljohn's loved ones for supporting them travelling this big, wild world.

A funny story & sharing positivity...

A funny story....we were at a birthday, and I said to a friend, "I need a sporty jacket in green for Billy, can't find one I like. Do you have one?" "What should it look like?" "Like the one you are wearing, but green." "I don't, do you want this one?" and in the middle of the party, they took their jacket off, handed it to me, and said "Look after it." Thank you, David Wurawa. Then, again this week, Dave was wondering how to do the last element of the show, finally we put out a shout-out, and 100 people came forward, without question, to lend us their voices. What Dave has created, with them, is worthy. Thank you.

That is what theatre is about: giving, bringing people together, improving lives through storytelling, making sense of the world, uniting. It's about love. This story is about the power of love: it can destroy, and it can build. It has no boundaries. Boundaries are created by false prophets, desperate to own power and people.

Love is beautiful, and step by step, we could use it to heal the wounds of the world.

Everyone deserves a safe place to be.

Tomorrow, go out and buy/make (!) a Phulkari and wrap the one you love in it and tell them how beautiful they are, how much they mean to you. If you see someone in need, help them, don't question it, just do it. Waleed's journey started with hearing of a lady who, on an airplane, stood up and stopped a person from being deported. The story is true.

It can happen.  That level of support for a person in need, whether their trouble is mental, sexual orientation, religious, gender or political persecution in nature, or they are simply having a bad day. Making the effort to help is worth it. Help, hope and love. 

I think I am only doing love stories from now on. 
 

Thank you to you, our lovely audience, for enjoying this show with us.

If you are feeling down, need help, feeling suicidal, there is a list of helplines above to call. Please do call them. If you are queer and need support, there are also numbers above to call. Again, please call them. 

Kindness and love can be found in the most unexpected places.  You are not alone.

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Yours,

Joanna & the vienna theatre project team.

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