Beneath The Music

Beneath The Music | 2023 | Jay Emmanuel

Beneath the Music is an exploration of the journey from resistance to acceptance of queerness, especially by those we hold dear. Created by Jay Emmanuel and written by Karthika Naïr, this poetic new physical theatre work is, above all, a celebration of gender fluidity and queerness across generations, traditions, and cultures.

Keshav and his husband are settling into their first home together in Australia. When Keshav is asked by his mother to return to India to help the family, he must confront her disapproval of who he is and the life he has chosen. A surprise encounter with an ancient festival and a traditional Indian story help mother and son on the road to love’s acknowledgment and acceptance.

Partly drawn from French-Indian poet Karthika Naïr’s award-winning book Until the Lions, Beneath the Music looks at this Indian classic through queer eyes to uncover and celebrate different cultural and generational ideas of gender, sexuality, and intimacy. A team of internationally renowned performers and a stellar creative team bring this physical yet poetic work to life through poignant and energetic theatrical vignettes that combine dance and theatre.

Beneath the Music is a story of a mother and son’s journey of acceptance. A story driven by love, it is ultimately a search for identity and understanding that will strike a chord with anyone who has ever felt they are living in two worlds.

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“A very different and moving piece of theatre, Beneath the Music, easily holds its audience for its 75-minute duration. A thoughtful, engrossing, and engaging production.”

Stage Whispers