Contempt, by Danish Sheikh (play)
Date: 27 June 2018 | Venue: G6 Lecture Theatre, 31-34 Gordon Square (UCL), WC1H 0PY | 1630-1800
A play by Danish Sheikh | Directed by Tasmine Airey
Over a period of two months in 2012, the Supreme Court of India heard arguments on the constitutionality of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. This law effectively criminalises the intimate lives of LGBTQ+ individuals in the country. The Court ultimately found that it did not violate the Indian Constitution, leaving millions of queer persons vulnerable to state legitimised persecution. Contempt explores the interactions between the judges and lawyers in the case, interspersing the courtroom narratives with the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals. The play will be followed by a Q&A session with Danish Sheikh.
Bio:
Danish Sheikh teaches courses at the intersection of gender and sexuality law and the theatre at the Jindal Global Law School. His play Contempt was nominated for the Hindu Playwright Award in 2017 and featured at the Arcola Theatre’s Global Queer Plays Festival in 2018.