Dara (NHB Modern Plays)

An intense domestic drama of global consequence - for India then and for our world now. 1659. Mughal India. The imperial court, a place of opulence and excess; music, drugs, eunuchs and harems. Two brothers, whose mother's death inspired the Taj Mahal, are heirs to this Muslim empire. Now they fight ferociously for succession. Dara, the crown prince, has the love of the people - and of his emperor father - but younger brother Aurangzeb holds a different vision for India's future. Islam inspires poetry in Dara, puritanical rigour in Aurangzeb. Can Jahanara, their beloved sister, assuage Aurangzeb's resolve to seize the Peacock Throne and purge the empire? Originally performed by Ajoka Theatre, Pakistan, Tanya Ronder's adaptation of Dara premiered at the National Theatre, London, in 2015. Annotation An intense domestic drama of global consequence - for India then and for our world now. 1659, Mughal India. The imperial court, a place of opulence and excess; music, drugs, eunuchs and harems. Two brothers, whose mother's death inspired the Taj Mahal, are heirs to this Muslim empire. Now they fight ferociously for succession. Dara, the crown prince, has the love of the people and of his emperor father - but younger brother Aurangzeb holds a different vision for India's future. Islam inspires poetry in Dara, puritanical rigour in Aurangzeb. Can Jahanara, their beloved sister, assuage Aurangzeb's resolve to seize the Peacock Throne and purge the empire? 1659. Mughal India. The Imperial Court, A Place Of Opulence And Excess; Music, Drugs, Eunuchs And Harems. Two Brothers, Whose Mother's Death Inspired The Taj Mahal, Are Heirs To This Muslim Empire. Now They Fight Ferociously For Succession. Dara, The Crown Prince, Has The Love Of The People - And Of His Emperor Father - But Younger Brother Aurangzeb Holds A Different Vision For India's Future. Islam Inspires Poetry In Dara, Puritanical Rigour In Aurangzeb. Can Jahanara, Their Beloved Sister, Assuage Aurangzeb's Resolve To Seize The Peacock Throne And Purge The Empire?--page 4 Of Cover "1659. Mughal India. The imperial court, a place of opulence and excess; music, drugs, eunuchs and harems. Two brothers, whose mother's death inspired the Taj Mahal, are heirs to this Muslim empire. Now they fight ferociously for succession. Dara, the crown prince, has the love of the people - and of his emperor father - but younger brother Aurangzeb holds a different vision for India's future. Islam inspires poetry in Dara, puritanical rigour in Aurangzeb. Can Jahanara, their beloved sister, assuage Aurangzeb's resolve to seize the Peacock Throne and purge the empire?"--Back cover 1659. Mughal India. Dara, the crown prince, has the love of the people, but brother Aurangzeb holds a different vision for Indias future. Islam inspires poetry in Dara, puritanical rigour in Aurangzeb. Can Jahanara, their sister, assuage Aurangzebs resolve to purge the empire? Dara was originally produced in Pakistan; this adaptation premiered at the National Theatre in 2015.