Sunderella : A QUEER BOLLYWOOD TWIST ON CINDERELLA

5 December 2023: What could be more entertaining than Cinderella on stage? A queer Bollywood twist on the classic fairytale, of course! Trikone Australia and Bali Padda, in association with Sydney
WorldPride, are proud to present Sunderella – one of the most unique and culturally diverse
events at the upcoming LGBTQIA+ festival.

Directed by Bali Padda (Guards at the Taj), the play features foot-tapping music, dramatic scenes, comic characters, dazzling costumes and jewellery, and a cast of about 20 performers, including several men in drag. And, in true Bollywood style, there are sweeping dance sequences, with the cast effortlessly lip-syncing smash hit songs from Bollywood productions.

“But at the end of the day, Sunderella – just like Cinderella – is a story of love and acceptance,” says Mr Padda. “And it’s more relevant to the divisive times we live in today than ever before.”

Set in 18th-century India, the play revolves around Sundar – a pious and sweet-natured young man who lives with his evil stepmother and two self-centred stepsisters.

“But as the timeless fairytale goes, Sundar’s fortunes change when a celestial force ‘stirs the pot’, transforms him into a gorgeous woman called Sunderella and sends her prancing to the prince’s palace,” Mr Padda says.

Sunderella was staged in Sydney for the first time in 2017 as part of the Sydney Gay
and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival.

“We were absolutely stoked with the response. After the first couple of shows, the whole season of two weekends sold out and we had to add a matinee,” Mr Padda says.

This time round, having received a significant grant from Sydney WorldPride, the team behind Sunderella is hoping to take the show to a whole new level, “with a stunning set design and colourful costumes that’ll transport you to the bazaars of 18th-century India”, says Mr Padda.

The show’s primary producer, Trikone Australia, is a non-profit, volunteer-led social support group for South Asian LGBTQIA+ people living in Australia.

Its founding director Alan Maurice says Trikone’s most important objective is to raise the profile of South Asian LGBTQIA+ people – a minority within a minority – in Australia.

“And we do this by organising a whole range of events – from marches and thought-provoking panel discussions to Bollywood parties and theatre productions like Sunderella,” Mr Maurice says.

Through projects such as Sunderella, Trikone also provides a platform to queer South Asians to celebrate their culture and be an integral part of showcasing the diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community in Australia.

“This allows our community to feel respected, safe and secure. It builds confidence, relationships and friendships. It enables individuals to shine. And it gives them a real sense of belonging in Australia,” Mr Maurice says

ABOUT TRIKONE AUSTRALIA
Founded in 2007, Trikone Australia is a non-profit, volunteer-led social-support organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) people of South Asian descent living in Australia. Through small and large-scale events (such as picnics, movie nights, panel discussions, Bollywood dance parties, theatre productions and Mardi Gras floats), Trikone offers a
supportive, empowering and non-judgmental platform, where LGBTQIA+ South Asians can proudly promote awareness and acceptance of their sexuality in society.

ABOUT BALI PADDA
Bali Padda is a director, producer, actor, development executive and dramaturg. He made his professional directorial debut with Guards at the Taj to critical acclaim, and has developed projects with Playwriting Australia, National Theatre of Parramatta, the ABC, Griffin Theatre Company and several independent artists. He is currently the Head of New Work, Stage at Co-Curious (Here Out West, Counting & Cracking) and Creative Producer for Griffin Theatre Company’s Sex Magick. Previously, he
was Industry Development Executive at Screen Australia.

He’s spent the past decade consulting for the screen and arts industries on creative projects, industry
and business strategy, diversity, equity and inclusion and talent/artist development, championing the authentic voice of historically excluded communities.

ABOUT SYDNEYWORLD PRIDE
Sydney WorldPride 2023 is a not-for-profit festival, incorporating Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. WorldPride is a global LGBTQIA+ festival that has been staged since 2000, with cities competing to host the event. Previous WorldPride celebrations include New York in 2019 and Copenhagen in 2021. Sydney WorldPride will incorporate all the beloved Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras events, plus a
broad festival offering across arts, sport, theatre, concerts, parties, First Nations programming and a human rights conference.

ABOUT ARA DARLING QUARTER THEATRE

Based in Darling Quarter, the ARA Darling Quarter Theatre is managed by Monkey Baa Theatre Company and is committed to supporting bold and diverse performing arts. Here you will find shows from a range of artists, producers and community groups alongside inspirational theatre for young people presented by Monkey Baa.

MORE INFORMATION
Trikone Australia: trikone.org.au
Bali Padda: balipadda.com
Sydney WorldPride: sydneyworldpride.com
ARA Darling Quarter Theatre: aradarlingquartertheatre.com.au

MEDIA CONTACT
Akash Arora | akash@trikone.org.au | 0430 933 234