Developed during her time at Theatre Conspiracy as Artist in Residence, Himmat is a story about relationships between complex and conflicted people. Playwright Gavan Cheema takes us through a journey about the moments of joy and struggle throughout the process of repair and recovery. Himmat is a story that inspires you to care. A bilingual narrative in Punjabi and English, Himmat delves into the world of a father and daughter born generations and miles apart. It is a gut-wrenchingly honest depiction of a working-class family’s struggle with addiction and labour. Told through flashbacks and set in Surrey Memorial Hospital, Himmat takes audiences on a journey exploring the complexities of family history and immigration. As secrets are revealed, Banth and Ajit unpack their memories, discovering how family dynamics and relationships change over time.

“This story is deeply personal. Growing up in a Punjabi household with immigrant parents, there were two things I knew too well; Punjabi dads express their love in complex ways – and don't ask them questions about the Crown and Coke" - Gavan Cheema, Playwright

Himmat first premiered at The Cultch in May 2022 and is slated to have a remount at The Surrey Civic Theatres in April 2024.

Stir Vancouver: “Theatre review: Himmat shows a father and daughter finding the strength to relate to each other”

The Georgia Straight: “Gavan Cheema's Himmat finds the joy in one family's story of redemption”

DESCRIPTION HERE

Gavan is very grateful for the support she's gotten so far to move this piece forward. In our 2021/2022 season Himmat had its world premiere as part of The Cultch’s season, the show ran from May 6 - May 15, 2022. Gavan started writing and developing this piece in her year of residence at Theatre Conspiracy in 2018. From July 2019 to September 2019 she received writing support from Block V at Playwrights Theatre Centre with partnership with Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre. In November 2019 Gavan worked with Rice and Bean and Boca Del Lupo at DBLSPK to develop the Punjabi text and have a public reading in both English and Punjabi. In January of 2020, she did a public reading as a part of the MSG Lab workshop series with Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre. Lastly, in August 2020, amidst a global pandemic and with support from South Asian Arts and Theatre Conspiracy, Himmat had a safe and site specific staged reading, drive in style!

PREMIERE CREDITS:
Playwright: Gavan Cheema
Actors: Gavan Cheema, Munish Sharma, Veenu Sandhu
Director: Paneet Singh
Stage Manager: Yvonne Yip
Dramaturg: Tim Carlson
Sound and Projection Designer: David Mesiha
Sound Assistant: Cindy Kao
Lighter Designer: Parjad Sharifi
Set Designer: Kimira Reddy
Costume Designer: elika mojtabaei
Translator: Paneet Singh
Presenting Partner: South Asian Arts

Special thanks to VACT, Rice and Bean and Boca Del Lupo for their support in early workshops of the piece, South Asian Art for their ongoing commitment to the piece and to Kathleen Flaherty and PTC for dramaturgy support and script development.

Thank you to our sponsors: Canada Council for the Arts, BC Arts Council, City of Vancouver, City of Surrey and The Hamber Foundation, thanks for funding this work and making it possible.