Welcome to Chai with Rai.  The Podcast for the Creative in You!

If this isn’t the most Musical episode then I don’t know what is! I would like to set a challenge of counting how many impromptu singing moments there are in the episode and the correct answer gets a £10 Nando’s Gift Card ;).  Such a joy discussing acting, music and entrepreneurship with Actor & Musician Kush Khanna.  Topics Breakdown:  Discussing Projects such as  - Lime Green/ Boogieman/ Temple/ Patiala House Prep work for each of those films and to get into that space. Short films...

I love a giddy chat and this was that!  Firstly, this episode is also available as Video so check that out now on Spotify and Youtube. Secondly, this is going to be a 2-parted episode because we had too much to talk about.  Soooooo- Enjoy part 1 with the beaut Actor and Musician Kush Khanna. Discussing all things music, family, friendships, spirituality and more.  Topics Breakdown:  Can you Improv Tho?-  x4 Quick Questions set to specific timers. Referencing Kush’s ”Imposter syndrome”...

Firstly, I am on a hunt for a new Chai recipe so erm please can you slide into the DM’s and let me know of any new recipe’s and flavours to try.  Secondly! What a joy to get to talk with the cast & crew from the play ”Permission” at The Space in London. We discussed all things representation, ACE Funding, reflections on the play and its content but also the approach to writing and acting - as well team work.  A lot of nuggets in this one and a massive thank you to Hunia Chawla, Anisa...

Such a bold and beautiful chat with Director, Producer and Artist Jordi. M Carter on how culture and the industry shapes us. How we are working to find our identity and placement, how we can be in service to art and the artists.  Topics Breakdown:  When was the most euphoric or happiest you were in your job? Walk away Lessons learnt from the following: Young Vic Associates , Theatre Peckham Young and Boundless and how did opportunities in those spaces come to be?  What about theatre and the...

The Final part with Gurkiran Kaur as we discuss Kundalini Yoga, South Asian work in UK theatre, voice and dialect coaching andddd of course GAMES! Topics Breakdown: Approach and pathway into Gurkiran’s Voice/ Dialect Coaching. How does your practice challenge or Better you work as an actor? And do you feel like you have a balance of it sometimes? Even from a sustainable perspective?  Transparent conversations around programming, better script work or craft work from directors, writer to...

This is going to be a two-parted episode as we had so much to talk on from voice coaching to the culture of British South Asian Theatre and more! Such a joy to speak with actor and Voice/Dialect Coach Gurkiran Kaur .  Topics Breakdown: Can you Improv though-Warm up games set to 4 timing settings.  How did she get into acting and where did that passion stem from? Difference mentally, financially and experience wise from first acting gig to most recent? The pivoting into Voice/Dialect...

It all went down in the underworld! From discussing spirituality, placement of your craft as an artist, career trajectory, mindset of being a creative. To the love for the exquisite premium vanilla that is Taylor Swift and everything in between. T’was a joy to share a cuppa with the exuberant soul that is Zachary James.  Topics Breakdown:  Can you Improv though-Warm up games set to 4 timing settings.  Hadestown-  Where do you find the heart/ the empathy point? How do you approach when...

We are back with delicious and juicy interviews and what a lineup I have coming for you babsies.  Warm up your cuppa because actor and writer Zakiyyah Deen is in the building and we spill it all. From discussing Why a Black Woman will never be a Prime Minister of the UK to how to pitch your theatre projects and your boundaries as an artist.  Topics breakdown:  Can you Improv though- New Warm up games. Zakiyyah’s current play- ”Why a Black Women will never be a prime minister.” Where did it...

Grabbed a cuppa with the talented Ra’eesah to discuss her writing process for ”38%” an audio story for the series Symphonies of Beaded Threads. We also discussed her unique voice as an artist, organisational make up of the theatre industry and of course poetry.  Also, with this I conclude the series of discussing BTS stuff and more with the writers behind Symphonies of Beaded Threads. I hope you enjoyed it and more to come!  About Ra’eesah:  Ra’eesah is a multifaceted creative using the...

at down with the wordsmith that is Riana Howarth to discuss a blossoming  and emerging career in theatre and more. We also dove into her audio story ”She’d Sit” from the audio series ”Symphonies of Beaded Threads”-  the experience of writing that and what she hopes the listeners take from it.  About Riana: Riana is an aspiring writer and illustrator with a curiosity for all/most things weird and wonderful. With a background in acting and experience in assisting in youth theatre classes at...

Had such a wonderful time discussing community and opportunity as freelance writers in the industry with the wonderful Gayathiri Kamalakanthan. And of course we discussed the writing process for the audio story ”Chemo in the Summer”.  About Gayathiri: Gayathiri is a Tamil poet and sex education facilitator. They’re interested in how language shapes childhood and how we use it to queer the future. Gayathiri won the Faber & Andlyn Publisher’s Prize 2022, the Primadonna Fiction Prize 2021...

I have to say and say it I will! If you are a writer! You must and you must listen to structure and how just telling this conversation is especially if you are an emerging writer. So many great antidotes to take and implement into your world.  Sitting down with the stunning Bethany Gemmell to discuss writing and how a world is created and how ”Catherine” was made for Symphonies of Beaded Threads .  About Bethany:  Bethany Henry Gemmell LLM (he/him) is a Northern non-binary artist in...

The incredible soul that is Yasmine Dankwah sat down and discussed her process of storytelling, YouTube rabbit holes and of course Spoken word vs poetry.  Here is the link to Yasmine’s short story titled ”An Epic: as told by my grandma’s photo album ” for Symphonies of Beaded Threads  About Yasmine:  Yasmine Dankwah is a British-Ghanaian spoken word artist and writer based in South London. She is interested in exploring how resistance in the form of identity-based discrimination can act as...

Finally and I mean Finally managed to get Carmina Bernhardt for an intevrview. Carrying on with the series we grabbed a cuppa and discussed the inspiration behind Carmina’s piece ”Brainfreeze” from the audio series ”Symphonies of Beaded Threads” and her love of cats and more! About Carmina: Carmina Bernhardt is a Vancouver-born and London-based actor, writer, director, script reader, and coach for stage and screen. Graduated with Distinction from Royal Central School of Speech and Drama’s...

Carrying on with the interview series with the writers from ”Symphonies of Beaded Threads” diving into the mind of Afriya- Jasmine Nylander. who wrote the short story titled ”Professional Daydreamer”.   About Afriya: Afriya-Jasmine Nylander is a Writer, Actor and Producer based in West London. She studied Theatre at the Brit School where she performed Shakespeare at Stratford-Upon-Avon, was chosen for the NSDF Festival 2021, and was a part of the Bridge Company.  In 2023, she had her...

Excited to be releasing an interview series with the the writers from the short audio storytelling series on Chai with Rai ”Symphonies of Beaded Threads”. Let’s warm up that delicious cuppa and dive into it with Soria Hamidi who wrote ”Take my Picture”  About Soria: Soria Hamidi is an Afghan playwright, prose fiction writer and dramaturg. Her work focuses on silenced histories, communities and people by exploring the stories through a class-based, racial and feminist perspective.  She has...

Getting into more deep chatter and games with the one and only Vidya Patel. Enjoy part 2 and you can also now listen to Part 1 HERE.  In the episode we discuss: Culture of Dance commissioning.  A tip on being financial savvy. A tip on funding, application how to get things done .  A tip on dance artists transitioning into facilitation or choreographing or movement direction? 3 things the dance culture be it South Asian led or overall industry that could do with or without Note:  Artists...

This is going to be a two-parted episode BECAUSE I just had to dive into this brilliant human’s mind. Got to speak with the incredible Choreographer, Movement artist and wonderful human that is Vidya Patel. From connecting on Gujarati sayings to discussing decoding Classical Indian dance, it’s access, Uday Shankar and so much more! This is a jam packed one.  In the episode we discuss: Creation exploration? What is it you look for? The room to feel like ?What does the world of your...

Part 2 aka the final part with actor Tibu Fortes. From discussing reverence of Shakespeare to co-op’s ( not the retail store).  In the episode we discuss: Co-Op’s - 3 tools you learnt from on being on the agency side and now to switching to a complete overall management.  Lessons you have learnt from the craft about yourself and the craft? If you could go back to any role/ project- what would you add/ change to it now with your lived experience? Discussing South Asian culture in...

Finally managed to sit down with the incredible mind that is Tibu Fortes. Warm up your cuppas as we dive into a 2-parted episode with the actor discussing his morning routines, acting tools and tricks and playing Martin Bashir in his recent work at The Park Theatre.  In the episode we discuss: Since this is Tibu’s first ever interview in podcasting I had to ask- How was Drama Centre London and NYT? Their start into acting? What got them the bug and was a Pivotel part in their career to...

This is PART 2 (Final part of the 100 episode Celebration)  Massive Thank you to all the guests Two Chickpeas in a Podcast, Zoha Rahman ,  Jay Jay Revlon, Sanjay Lago and Meghna Bhalla. HERE is the link to the Instagram unfiltered LIVE! To subscribe to Patreon and become a Patron/ supporter of Chai with Rai.  Social: Myself: https://www.instagram.com/chaiwithrai_/ & https://twitter.com/chaiwithrai_ & https://www.tiktok.com/@chaiwithrai Guest:...

Celebrating 100 Episodes of Chai with Rai with a very special episode co-hosted with Two Chickpeas in a Podcast, Zoha Rahman and featuring special guests Jay Jay Revlon, Sanjay Lago and Meghna Bhalla. Now this is part 1 of part 2 so keep an eye out for Part 2! And as we celebrate 100 episodes- HERE is the link for the Giveaways! HERE is the link to the Instagram unfiltered LIVE! To subscribe to Patreon and become a Patron/ supporter of Chai with Rai.  Social: Myself:...

This is the last story from our storytelling series Symphonies of beaded threads. I have loved working on this project, bringing you something more than just an interview or a chat on the podcast and also just flexing that producing/ directing skill in the audio world. I have also appreciated your messages, you sharing each episode, tagging chai with rai and the artists involved. Now If you haven’t done so make sure to check out the previous 7 stories- comment, share and subscribe.  P.s this...