A Dazzling Performance of Courage and Empowerment

Anu Bhatt is the granddaughter of freedom fighters who fought for a free India.

That spirit of freeing oneself from shackles --whether colonial or those of trauma-- live on in Ms. Bhatt and are displayed in her dazzling new play, “Hollow/Wave.”

Silk Road Rising, a Chicago-based theatre company, invited Bhatt to expand a short piece she had written into a full-length play.

Developed over an 18-month dramaturgical process, writing the play was “like uncovering a well I had buried in my gut for so long, and that started to overflow once I dipped my hands in,” recounts Bhatt.

The autobiographical play is about surviving childhood trauma of a sexual nature.

Bhatt says, “I didn’t connect the dots between the trauma I survived and the depressive symptoms I experienced until long, long after the events had occurred.”

The invitation to continue working on the the play gave Bhatt a chance to look more deeply within herself.

Through multiple script workshops, Bhatt was able to develop the story she wanted to tell and test different angles and perspectives.

Bhatt says, “Hollow/Wave is a message of hope, meant to uplift all genders, ages, and races to feel empowered to own their story.”

“Our humanity is fully materialized when all of our stories are shared widely,” said Silk Road Rising’s founding executive director, Malik Gillani.

“Many in our communities have asked us to more directly tackle social issues, including trauma and abuse, and Anu does a beautiful job of modeling what it means to not just uncover, but overcome trauma. Her story is empowering and I’m so proud to be sharing Anu’s story with our patrons,” said Gillani.

“Hollow/Wave” will be performed at Silk Road Rising (located in the Historic Chicago Temple Building at 77 W Washington St) from May 17 through May 27, 2018.

Learn more about “Hollow/Wave” and buy tickets online at: https://www.silkroadrising.org...