I have a boy, but he is across the border, I know he is. A few miles between. The same stars shine on him.

Child of the Divide

A journey across loss, identity and belonging, seen through the eyes of a child.

Written by Sudha Bhuchar, Directed by Jim Pope

Inspired by Bhisham Sahni’s short story ‘Pali’

Summer 1947 and 16 million people are on the move between India and the newly-formed Pakistan. Amid the violent political upheaval young Pali’s fingers slip from his father’s hand, and his destiny changes forever.

Taken in by a Muslim family, he is given a new name, a new faith and a new life. But when his real father returns to claim him, Pali must decide who he is: the Hindu boy he was born to be, the Muslim boy he has become, or simply a child of the divide.

“A wonderful and mature play that uses the story of one child to explore the tragedy of many thousands…it’s a rare show with equal appeal to kids and adults, heart and head” Lyn Gardner, Guardian

Child of the Divide premiered at Polka in 2006 in a co-production with Tamasha (directed by Kristine Landon-Smith), where it was named that year’s ‘No 1 show’ for children and families by Time Out. It was revived by Webplay in 2007 and toured New York and Los Angeles.

In 2016 Child of the Divide was part of a pilot project, arranged by Canon Michael Roden and The Partition History Project (now the Partition Education Group) where school children in KS2 and KS3 from four schools in Hitchin and Luton watched the play and took part in pilot lessons about the real events. The Runnymede Trust evaluated the project and concluded that watching the play embedded children’s understanding of the history of that period in a deeper and nuanced way that just having the lessons.

Read the full report, Nations Divided: How to teach the history of Partition by Farah Elahi.

The 70th anniversary edition of the play text is widely read and available as paper back or PDF from Bloomsbury Publishing.

An emotionally-charged story of family, identity and belonging; marking the 70th anniversary of the partition of India.

Child of the Divide also made its Canadian premier at the JUNIOR Festival at the Harbourfront Centre.

RESOURCE PACK

Our educational pack is a free downloadable PDF resource for teachers, students, researchers or anyone interested in discovering more about our production Child of the Divide.

To download our educational pack, please click here

Child of the Divide is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Cast & Creatives

Creative Team:

Writer Sudha Bhuchar
Director Jim Pope
Designer Sue Mayes
Composer /Sound Designer Arun Ghosh
Lighting Designer Peter Harrison
Movement Director Lawrence Evans
Production Manager Denis Charles
Stage Manager Ben Jones
Stage Manager Vicky Jukes
Wardrobe Annie James

Cast/ Characters

Halema Hussain Zainab /Hasina
Adam Karim/ Pali
Devesh Kishore Shakur/Pagalhead
Nyla Levy Kaushalya/Aisha
Diljohn Singh Manohar Lal/ Buttameez

What people are saying

“all one can do is thank our lucky stars for theatre like Child of the Divide and the hope it brings about the importance of love and understanding” ★★★★ - Carol Woddis

“Child of the Divide had it all: laughter; love; sadness; and complex, interesting characters.” - Burnley Express

“Sudha Buchar's tale of partitioning in India, and a child's struggle when he is separated from his family as they flee was a very emotional start to the Big Imaginations Festival. It was also some of the most impressive acting I've ever seen”. - Thebrickcastle.com

"Child of the Divide is a charming, thought-provoking, family-friendly play which is well worth seeing." - Funoon.co.uk

"A powerful play with a powerful story that should never be forgotten and retold to generations to come ... go and see it now!" - TheatreBooksandMovies.com

Hailey Wendling, Culture Whisper

The Brick Castle, Big Imaginations Festival Launch

“.... this is a very powerful and heartfelt play dealing with highly emotive and potentially distressing subject matter. It's written and performed intelligently, sensitively, fairly and informatively leaving members of the audience (children and adults alike) with many things to ponder after seeing it.” -MumsnetMerton

“Imaginative and educational slice of history seen through the eyes of a child” - The Stage

"Child of the Divide uses an intimate struggle to portray the tragedy of millions, exploring themes of identity, politics, and acceptance". - ★★★★ Culturewhisper.com

"Child of the Divide is a vivid picture of intolerance of religious difference set against human kindness, of the problems of being caught up in a different culture." - British Theatre Guide

BBC Radio 4, Loose Ends, Sat 30 Sept 2017

Asian Culture Vulture

Howard Hoxton, British Theatre Guilde

Burnley Express Review

Awards & Nominations

Child of the Divide won the Palace Theatre and Opera House supported Best Stage Production category at the 2018 Asian Media Awards. The award was presented by Sheena Wrigley, Executive Director at the Palace Theatre and Opera House. Speaking on st… — Child of the Divide won the Palace Theatre and Opera House supported Best Stage Production category at the 2018 Asian Media Awards. The award was presented by Sheena Wrigley, Executive Director at the Palace Theatre and Opera House.

Child of the Divide opened at the Polka Theatre in early October and has received an Offie (Off West End Theatre) nomination for 'Best Production for Young People'.

Take a look.

Read what people are saying about Child of the Divide: A remarkable story of family, identity and belonging marking the 70th anniversary of the Partition of India. Touring the UK from 4th Oct - 18th Nov 2017. Visit bhucharboulevard.com for more.

The opening gala night for Child of the Divide by Sudha Bhuchar at the Polka Theatre in London. 4th October 2017.

Child of the Divide - VOXPOPS

Meet the team behind Child of the Divide: A remarkable story of family, identity and belonging marking the 70th anniversary of the Partition of India. Touring the UK from 4th Oct - 18th Nov 2017.

Anita Rani presenter and Patron Big Imaginations Festival talks about the production Child of the Divide by Sudha Bhuchar. Filmed at the Polka Theatre, London.

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