Dadism - The show

Meet Dad - A successful, career-driven 40 something man who has become a father for the first time. For a man that has never been out of his depth, boy is he…

On the night of the baby’s birth, Dad finds himself turfed out of the maternity ward, having been told to come back at visiting times.

But he’s not a visitor. Is he? Surely visitors are aunties and cousins.

He’s the dad… or ‘your husband’... or birthing partner… now overstaying visitor… soon to be babysitter…

His identity seems to be determined by everyone else except him.

In a world where his wife is ‘Mum,’ and he has been relegated to ‘birthing partner,’ will he ever establish a position of his own?

Dadism! From the writer of the award nominated ‘The Dateless Wonder,’ comes a brand new comedy about parenting and double standards.

Between the stern midwife, the alpha couple that are Jenna & Jayesh, and social norms, what is the role of a dad in this day and age?

And does Dad actually have a name? Well, that will be explained...

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Dadism is a solo male show, charting the experience of a man becoming a father for the first time. It is a comedy about identity, what it means to be a man and father whilst navigating traditional gender roles, and cultural norms of dads being providers rather than carers.

This comedy is the first of a trilogy charting the first three years of a new dad’s experience.

A NOTE FROM THE WRITER.

When I go to the theatre I don’t see me on stage. I rarely have. Adding to that, I don’t see the people in my life, in particular the men. Taking that one step further, I don’t see the Asian men I know.

Asian men's voices tend to be underrepresented. The voices that are out there stay within a close cluster of issues, such as honour-based violence or terrorism, and usually never written by them.

What I recognise are men that have normal lives, jobs, concerns, family and friends; who are partners and fathers.

That’s where Dadism came from. A subject that is universal for a lot of men whatever their background.

Universal human experience has always formed the basis of my work. I said exactly the same thing when I wrote my previous show, The Dateless Wonder.

Rather than looking at all our differences, my work will always celebrate what connects us, something we can sometimes be all to ready to forget.

Venues like Watermans are few and far between. They have always championed and supported different voices to the normal stereotypes and that's what's powerful about theatre. Therefore, I feel very fortunate that Watermans supported Dadism wholeheartedly.

I feel equally lucky to have found a director like Alison. I can truly say that I have grown as a writer and artist due to her influence.

When I couldn’t get any luckier, Jason rocked up. He grabbed the script and took in a direction that really seemed to suit the piece. He bought a lot to the table, played with the material, injected his own humour and made it his own.

Benjamin was the final piece in the puzzle. He’s a wonderful designer and Dadism is richer for his take on it.

I’m very proud of my team and proud of Dadism. I hope you all enjoy it!

When I go to the theatre I don’t see me on stage. I rarely have. Adding to that, I don’t see the people in my life, in particular the men. Taking that one step further, I don’t see the Asian men I know.

Asian men's voices tend to be underrepresented. The voices that are out there stay within a close cluster of issues, such as honour-based violence or terrorism, and usually never written by them.

What I recognise are men that have normal lives, jobs, concerns, family and friends; who are partners and fathers.

That’s where Dadism came from. A subject that is universal for a lot of men whatever their background.

Universal human experience has always formed the basis of my work. I said exactly the same thing when I wrote my previous show, The Dateless Wonder.

Rather than looking at all our differences, my work will always celebrate what connects us, something we can sometimes be all to ready to forget.

Venues like Watermans are few and far between. They have always championed and supported different voices to the normal stereotypes and that's what's powerful about theatre. Therefore, I feel very fortunate that Watermans supported Dadism wholeheartedly.

A NOTE FROM THE WRITER.

When I go to the theatre I don’t see me on stage. I rarely have. Adding to that, I don’t see the people in my life, in particular the men. Taking that one step further, I don’t see the Asian men I know.

Asian men's voices tend to be underrepresented. The voices that are out there stay within a close cluster of issues, such as honour-based violence or terrorism, and usually never written by them.

What I recognise are men that have normal lives, jobs, concerns, family and friends; who are partners and fathers.

That’s where Dadism came from. A subject that is universal for a lot of men whatever their background.

Universal human experience has always formed the basis of my work. I said exactly the same thing when I wrote my previous show, The Dateless Wonder.

Rather than looking at all our differences, my work will always celebrate what connects us, something we can sometimes be all to ready to forget.

Venues like Watermans are few and far between. They have always championed and supported different voices to the normal stereotypes and that's what's powerful about theatre. Therefore, I feel very fortunate that Watermans supported Dadism wholeheartedly.

I feel equally lucky to have found a director like Alison. I can truly say that I have grown as a writer and artist due to her influence.

When I couldn’t get any luckier, Jason rocked up. He grabbed the script and took in a direction that really seemed to suit the piece. He bought a lot to the table, played with the material, injected his own humour and made it his own.

Benjamin was the final piece in the puzzle. He’s a wonderful designer and Dadism is richer for his take on it.

I’m very proud of my team and proud of Dadism. I hope you all enjoy it!

When I go to the theatre I don’t see me on stage. I rarely have. Adding to that, I don’t see the people in my life, in particular the men. Taking that one step further, I don’t see the Asian men I know.

Asian men's voices tend to be underrepresented. The voices that are out there stay within a close cluster of issues, such as honour-based violence or terrorism, and usually never written by them.

What I recognise are men that have normal lives, jobs, concerns, family and friends; who are partners and fathers.

That’s where Dadism came from. A subject that is universal for a lot of men whatever their background.

Universal human experience has always formed the basis of my work. I said exactly the same thing when I wrote my previous show, The Dateless Wonder.

Rather than looking at all our differences, my work will always celebrate what connects us, something we can sometimes be all to ready to forget.

Venues like Watermans are few and far between. They have always championed and supported different voices to the normal stereotypes and that's what's powerful about theatre. Therefore, I feel very fortunate that Watermans supported Dadism wholeheartedly.

I feel equally lucky to have found a director like Alison. I can truly say that I have grown as a writer and artist due to her influence.

When I couldn’t get any luckier, Jason rocked up. He grabbed the script and took in a direction that really seemed to suit the piece. He bought a lot to the table, played with the material, injected his own humour and made it his own.

Benjamin was the final piece in the puzzle. He’s a wonderful designer and Dadism is richer for his take on it.

I’m very proud of my team and proud of Dadism. I hope you all enjoy it!

Anjali xx

Dad:

Jason Kavan

Director:

Alison Chadwick

Design:

Benjamin Bailey de Paor

Written by:

Anjali Mya Chadha

Leaflet design:

Bharat Patel

Image Photographer:

Vipul Sangoi

Trailer Design:

Daniel K. Hatton

Additional material by:

Jason Kavan and Alison Chadwick

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Thank you to each and every person at Watermans for your unconditional support and belief in Dadism.

Also to the Guru Restaurant for looking after us so well.

And an extra special thank you to:

Ronny Jhutti.

Julia Finlay.

Caitlin Power.

Salima Khanum.

Rez Kempton.

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