We're Not Getting Married
By Tajinder Singh Hayer
It's the first ever meeting for Harvey and Sandeep. With their families waiting expectantly in the next room the following thirty minutes could decide their future. Harvey's been coached by his brother Jugjit, and Sandeep's heard all of sister-in-law Rani's wisdom. But what's behind the words of those who've travelled this path before, and should the youngsters follow their advice?
Featuring Kulvinder Ghir ('Goodness Gracious Me') and Balvinder Sopal ('Silver Street').
Harvey..........Pushpinder Chani
Sandeep....... Manjeet Mann
Jugjit.............Kulvinder Ghir
Rani.............. Balvinder Sopal
Other voices by Adeel Akhtar and Deeivya Meir
Produced by James Peries
Script Producer Naylah Ahmed
MEET THE WRITER (from The Asian Network of the BBC)
We caught up with Tajinder Singh Hayer to get the inside story on the play, and to find out about life as a writer. Matthew Ruckwood asked the questions.
THE PLAY
Q: How did the idea for this play come about?
TAJ: From telling stories about ÔintroductionsÕ to my friends. I thought that the situation would, by its very nature, create a neat structure for a play. I also thought that it might be funny.
Q: This play is about a decision that has a huge effect on peopleÕs lives; did you consider different approaches for dealing with the topic?
TAJ: I knew from the start that I wanted it to be funny, but not in way that just milked already-dry clichŽs. Lots of Asians have arranged marriages, but lots of Asians have their own uniquely strange arranged marriages.
Q: What are your thoughts on the Asian Network Presents strand in general?
TAJ: IÕd like to see different audiences turned on to radio drama; I hope the Asian Network Presents strand helps.
Q: I understand that you yourself are getting married in the near future Ð did this inform the play?
TAJ: Thankfully, my fiancŽe and myself managed to find each other in a slightly different way. Bits of my own experiences and stories IÕve heard inform the play; theyÕve then all been mashed together with large dollops of fiction.
Q: One of the memorable aspects of the play are the two very different streams of advice that Harvinder and Sandeep receive. What would your advice be?
TAJ: My advice is that there are far too many people giving advice.
Q: How did you get started with your writing career?
TAJ: Poetry at university. I hadnÕt thought of scripts until the BBCÕs Northern Exposure programme started; they did workshops in Bradford and I went along. ItÕs all bumbled along from that point.
Q: What other work have you produced and what have you enjoyed most?
TAJ: IÕve done a reasonable amount of writing for theatre and radio. One of my most rewarding experiences was when I was working for Peshkar Productions in Oldham. I wrote a play called Passengers that was performed by a bunch of young people from the area. It was great watching one young man absolutely nail a monologue Ð a mix of pride in the groupÕs achievement and my own artistic satisfaction.
Q: Your hometown (or rather city!) of Bradford features in a number of your pieces Ð do you find the area important to your writing?
TAJ: Being from Bradford informs much of what I do even when it isnÕt the subject matter of the work itself. I guess, somewhere underneath, IÕm always interested by the idea of a home and what that means. Equally, IÕm informed by being a Sikh, being British, being of Punjabi origin etc.
Q: You have written plays for stage, as well as scripts for film and TV. How does writing for radio differ from these other forms of writing?
TAJ: Radio frees my verbal side (and I am quite a verbal thinker); I have to remind myself, however, to think in terms of aural landscapes as well as just words.
Q: A final ÔfinallyÕ, what advice would you give aspiring writers looking to enter the world of screen and radio?
TAJ: Do it because you like the act of writing in itself; the other stuff usually takes care of itself after that.
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