'Step Child': a play about the surveillance of First World War Indian dissenters

The British Government promises that all British subjects are
equal before the law. But when America begins blocking the
growing number of Indian Sikhs seeking to enter the US reneging
on an Anglo-American treaty, will the British step in? A
British spy and his wealthy Parsi informant discuss the
potential revolutionary ramifications if the British do not.


This podcast is one of five short plays produced in response
to documents held at The National Archives relating
to the experiences of people from South Asia at the time of the
First World War. The series was created by five playwrights
from the Tamasha Developing Artists (TDA) programme and funded
by the Friends of The National Archives.


Written by: Amy Ng


Directed by: Anthony Simpson-Pike


Performed by: Naveed Khan, Balvinder Sopal and Peter Singh


Recorded, edited and sound designed by: Robbie MacInnes


Photo credits: Bettina Adela


With thanks to Iqbal Husain and Sara Griffiths at The National
Archives; and Fin Kennedy and Mina Maisuria at Tamasha Theatre.