a chinwag with manali datar about the wrong gods

If you’re a fan of theatre, there’s a hefty chance you’ve seen Manali Datar in action before. The top-notch performer has appeared in everything from Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to Fangirls, with a bucketload of television work and music releases in between.

This weekend, Manali embarks on the beginning of a brand-spanking new adventure. The triple threat will be taking to the stage in Belvoir St Theatre's The Wrong Gods. We caught up with Manali in the last weeks of rehearsal to find out about what it’s been like to be a part of this rad production.Tell us a little bit about your character in The Wrong Gods. I play Devi, an upper-class woman from the city. She has traded a life of corporate greed and inherited wealth for a much humbler cause. When we meet Devi, she has been in the valley for about a year, assisting the villagers with their protest efforts using her skills and knowledge. She is compassionate, tactful and prides herself on her impersonation skills… which really need to be seen to be believed.

The cast features an all-female South Asian cast – can you speak a bit to the significance of this? The story is about South Asian women and inspired by a location-specific Indian event, so it is crucial that the casting reflects this world as closely as possible. It has been an honour working with three absolute POWERHOUSES. I have been such an admirer of them all for a long time and now that I’ve had the privilege to work with them, I am even more obsessed. Always meet your heroes!!! Especially if they’re Nadie, Vaishnavi and Radhika.

I have never been in an all-South Asian cast before! So this experience has just been incredibly meaningful and healing for me. The four of us are all so different, but we just complement each other with such ease. It’s so freeing to be able to slip in and out of accent and language in a workspace – I never thought I’d get the opportunity to feel this comfortable with a cast in a rehearsal room.What has it been like exploring questions of economic progress and environmental tensions in a narrative context, especially when they mirror conversations currently happening in our world? As a team of creatives who have largely similar belief systems, we’ve been afforded an inclusive space to be able to explore the grey areas of our characters and the play’s relevant themes. Hannah and Shakthi have facilitated many spirited discussions and offered thoughtful prompts which have allowed us to delve even deeper into the complex ideas woven throughout The Wrong Gods. It’s been fascinating to deconstruct our relationships to capitalism, violence, colourism and environmentalism in an inclusive and non-judgmental space, supported by an enthusiastically curious group of people.

There’s certainly a sense of responsibility that comes with creating a work that is inspired by true events. We want to present the intricacies of the situation with nuance and care, whilst also holding a mirror up to our audience, urging question and thought. What’s so special about Shakthi’s writing is that it manages to capture this complexity without condescending the audience. There’s a real sense that we as the team know just how complicit we are and that we’re not exempt from seeing ourselves reflected in the mirror too.The play centres around a group of strong women – who is a woman in your life that you look up to? My Mum! She’s genuinely a baddie. I’m really enjoying this part of my life and our relationship now that I’m also an adult. She’s been a constant inspiration to me throughout my life and I’ve been shaped by her strength, boldness and uniqueness to embrace those qualities in myself. Thanks Mammaaaa.

What makes The Wrong Gods different to any other production you’ve been in? The Wrong Gods is a South Asian story with an all-female South Asian cast of only four – which are all firsts for me! This process so far has been incredibly fulfilling in a way that I haven’t experienced before, primarily because of my cultural connection to it.

The play aligns with my philosophies and perspectives; it challenges me and inspires my creativity. I have felt so stimulated by the questions that the work presents – I feel changed by it. The Wrong Gods is truly special and I’m humbled to be a part of it.

Why should we go and see The Wrong Gods? If you’re a curious person like myself, this play will leave you with more questions than answers (which is where we like to live). It will inspire passionate discussion and will open you up to massive changes in perspective. If you’re not a curious person… well, you’re about to be.

The Wrong Gods is showing in Sydney/Warrane from May 3rd to June 1st. The show will be playing in Melbourne/Naarm from June 6th to July 12th.