Made in India/Britain

Exploring Rinkoo Barpaga’s journey as a deaf person of colour, this lively performance has the full package of drama, family and culture. 

Made in India/Britain

From his humble beginnings in Birmingham, to brotherhood in Derby and a life changing journey in the Punjab state of India, Barpaga endears himself to the audience with his charm and comedy, by telling his story in his intimate show ‘Made in India Britain’. 

Barpaga’s dynamic performance and lively energy brought his childhood stories to life. His style and joy on stage was infectious, and the elements of physical theatre and comedy were incredibly relatable. 

As a hearing person, it was clear that this show was made by and for the member deaf community. The show was performed in BSL, with interpretation and voice performance done by an actor. Barpaga’s personality shone through his body language, and I thoroughly enjoyed the insight into the deaf community. 

I particularly enjoyed his reflections on racism in the deaf community, as it showed the intersection between two aspects of his identity and allowed me to relate to his experience whilst still learning something about part of the British Indian community I had no previous insight into. From themes of class, race, mental health and masculinity, Barpaga was really able to cover a wide spectrum of his own identity and provide commentary on social issues, without coming off as preachy― he made it simple, funny and relevant. 

The whole show also felt realistic and grounded, instead of uncomfortably vague, as some diaspora torn-between-two-places work can become. The experience of growing up brown in the Midlands, visiting India, and the talk around arranged marriages were relatable and universal.

Despite recollecting some painful times in his past, Barpaga finished the show on a positive and hopeful note, and overall, his compelling performance intrigued me. I wanted to learn more about him and his documentary Double Discrimination – what more could you ask for!

Header Image Credit: Provided by Chloe Nelkin Consulting

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