Gayathiri Kamalakanthan's debut play, Period Parrrty, is a warm and funny coming-of-age story that explores teenage angst, fumbling romances, and dreams of freedom. Set in 2010, the play uses the celebratory ritual following a first period as a catalyst to examine the thoughts and feelings of Krish, a 15-year-old non-binary Tamil British teen who has not yet come out to their family.
The play is a bold study of Tamil history and identity, with Krish's inner conflicts about pleasing their family spilling out across the stage. However, the structure of Kamalakanthan's writing feels haphazard, shifting clumsily from naturalistic scenes to direct monologues and recorded interviews for a school project. Despite the creativity, these techniques prevent the play from achieving a unified vision.
At the heart of the production is the relationship between Krish and their best friend Brenavee, played by Elizabeth Green and Tanvi Virmani. Their friendship sings with warmth and intimacy, and as Brenavee confronts her true feelings for Krish, her rising insecurities bubble over as childlike jealousy. The set, designed by Katie Scott, is a shapeshifting spectacle, with a toilet cubicle morphing into bedrooms and the period party venue.
Directed by Gitika Buttoo, the play is very funny, with Kamalakanthan masterfully writing adolescent turmoil and generational misunderstandings between Krish and their mother, Brintha. Conversations move between languages, capturing the sound of an authentic British Tamil home. When they finally reveal all they've kept silent, it feels like a bridge is being lifted.
Period Parrrty is a tender, delicate exploration of self-discovery that hits you right in the emotional gut. It runs at Soho Theatre, London.
