Sophia
Review by Russell Cook from Suffolk Village Info.
Princess, suffragette, revolutionary … these are just three elements to the riveting life of Sophia Duleep Singh.
Now, a light is being shone on the amazing story of this British woman with deep-rooted and passionate Indian heritage by Eastern Angles Theatre Company.
We witness the formative experiences that shaped her into the extraordinary woman she became. From her royal upbringing as the daughter of the deposed Maharaja of the Sikh Empire and god daughter to Queen Victoria, to her transformative trip to India in 1903 where she reconnected with her Punjabi heritage.
Her father was the last Maharajah of Punjab, dethroned by the British as a child and exiled to England. The family made a home in Elveden, in Suffolk, until bankruptcy and a new mistress swayed the dispossessed Maharajah to make a secret new life abroad and plot to take back his kingdom.
Meanwhile, back in England, the young Princess faced years of loss and mourning before embarking on a life changing journey to her family’s homeland in India. Returning with a bold new sense of bravery, Sophia used her status to become a beacon for the fight for women’s suffrage and Indian independence.
And so the stage is set for Hannah Kumari’s epic new drama which retells the forgotten story of this unknown lioness of women’s suffrage and her part in some of the defining moments of British Indian history.
We witness her evolution through personal struggles, loss and the discovery of her political voice.
Natasha Patel in the lead role of Sophia is amazing throughout, as she takes us through her dramatic life.
Three other cast members are equally brilliant in telling the story of their brave sister.
Sushant Shekhar is wonderful as her brother, Freddie Duleep Singh, who he plays with grace and elegance - the perfect English gentleman who has little or no interest in his Indian heritage. As the soldier, Adnan Chadna, he is tender and I was willing the couple to find happiness. He also plays numerous other parts including Lala Lajpat Rai, who was an Indian revolutionary, politician, and author whom Sofia met in India.
Moshana Khan as Sophia’s sister, Bamba Duleep Singh (and Jindal Kaur, Emmeline Pankhurst and Matron Edith), along with Harriet Sharmini Smithers as Sophia’s other sibling, Catherine Duleep Singh (as well her mother Maharani Bamba, Una Douglas and Pauline Duleep Singh) both add dynamically to the cast.
We watch on as Sophia grows and changes into a strong and determined woman of great principal.
Some of her most touching scenes are when she becomes a nurse caring for the young soldier, Adnan Chadna, and where they develop feelings for one another.
Director Mandeep Glover’s clever use of set, lighting and voice over kept the audience up to date with where and when we are in the timeline, the history of the family and the history of India and England.
It’s a fascinating story, and Hannah Kumari’s script builds as the tension in the Duleep Singh family, and the political arena Sophia finds herself in, comes to a head. This is an important production about a piece of Suffolk’s history and a forgotten champion of women’s rights - one that I was not aware of until now.
Another great play wonderfully performed.
Sophia is at The Quay Theatre, Sudbury on 29 March 2025. Click HERE for details.
Also showing at Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds on 1 April 2025. Click HERE for details.
Also showing at Seckford Theatre, Woodbridge on 24 April 2025. Click HERE for details.
FOR FULL TOUR DETAILS, CLICK HERE