Written by Saher Shah and directed by Melina Namdar, Vitamin D is a bittersweet portrayal of the emotional and societal fallout in the aftermath of Larki’s (Saher Shah) divorce. It demonstrates the stigma after divorce for a British Pakistani woman within the community.
It has been one year since Larki’s marriage ended and she had to leave Manchester to move back in with her parents. She returns to work as a solicitor after not working for the period she was married. At 29 years of age, she feels disillusioned with the profession she has returned to and aspires to be a poet.
Larki is surrounded by a loving, sometimes smothering family and nosey aunties who all have something to say about her predicament. Her poetry is a way of her voicing her inner turmoil during this tumultuous time in her life. Can Larki find her own destiny in the face of her own and others’ judgements?
Despite the seriousness of the play’s subject matter there is a lot of humorous dialogue throughout, especially from Larki’s interactions with her BFF played by Anshula Bain. There are also some poignant moments with her concerned mother played by Renu Brindle.
Vitamin D is a 90 minute play currently showing at Soho Theatre in London from Tue 3rd – Sat 21st of September. To find out more and book tickets visit this link.
