Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti
Encyclopedia
Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti is a British Sikh writer. She has written extensively for stage, screen and radio.
Her first play, Behsharam (Shameless), broke box office records when it played at Soho Theatre and the Birmingham Rep in 2001. Her play Behzti
(Dishonour) was controversially cancelled by the Birmingham Rep after violent protests against the play. Death threats forced Bhatti to go into hiding.
Her play AD2050 is in production by the Kali Theatre Company; Behud played at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
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Life
Bhatti studied modern languages at Bristol University and has worked as a journalist and an actress.Her first play, Behsharam (Shameless), broke box office records when it played at Soho Theatre and the Birmingham Rep in 2001. Her play Behzti
Behzti
Behzti is a play written by the British Sikh playwright Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti. The play sparked a controversy in the United Kingdom in December 2004. A controversial scene set in a Gurdwara included scenes of rape, physical abuse and murder. Some members of the Sikh community found the play deeply...
(Dishonour) was controversially cancelled by the Birmingham Rep after violent protests against the play. Death threats forced Bhatti to go into hiding.
Her play AD2050 is in production by the Kali Theatre Company; Behud played at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
.
Awards
- 2003 Race in the Media Award, by the Commission for Racial EqualityCommission for Racial EqualityThe Commission for Racial Equality was a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom which aimed to tackle racial discrimination and promote racial equality. Its work has been merged into the new Equality and Human Rights Commission.-History:...
in the radio music/entertainment category for North East South West. - Asian Women of Achievement awards, nominated twice
- 2005 Susan Smith Blackburn PrizeSusan Smith Blackburn PrizeThe Susan Smith Blackburn Prize established in 1978, is for English-language women playwrights. Named for Susan Smith, alumna of Smith College, who died of breast cancer.-Winners:* 1978-79 Mary O'Malley* 1979-80 Barbara Schneider...
, a US-based award of $10,000, made annually to the best English language play by a woman.
Plays
Soho Theatre, London 2001- BehztiBehztiBehzti is a play written by the British Sikh playwright Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti. The play sparked a controversy in the United Kingdom in December 2004. A controversial scene set in a Gurdwara included scenes of rape, physical abuse and murder. Some members of the Sikh community found the play deeply...
The Door, Birmingham Rep, Birmingham, UK 2005 - Behhudth (Beyond Belief) play reading, Theatre Royal - Stratford East, London 2009
- Londonee (Theatre Royal Stratford East)
- Two Old Ladies (Leicester Haymarket)
- Behud (Beyond Belief) (Soho Theatre)
Radio, films, and teleplays
- Dead Meat, half hour film produced by Channel 4 as part of the Dogma TV season
- Mera Des, a radio play for Radio 3
- Stitched Up (commissioned series for BBC1)
- Honour (single film for BBC2)
- Lipstick and Nails (police drama for Great Meadow Productions)
- The Cleaner (hour long film for BBC1)
- Pound Shop Boys (feature film - Scottish Screen and Film Council)
- Pile Up and The Bride (Carlton TV)
- Westway (1997 radio series), over 30 episodes of the BBC World Service Drama
- EastEndersEastEndersEastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
(2001–2005), 9 episodes - Crossroads (2001)