Kanpur: 1857

Strapped to a cannon, an Indian rebel finds themselves answering to a British officer for the crimes of Kanpur – an Indian uprising against British colonial forces. Based on historical events, this new play comically satirises contemporary conflicts around gender, colonial violence, and making art in times of crisis.

Winner of a Scotsman Fringe First Award 2025

This isn’t a story, this isn’t myth, nor legend,
this is my life, it is my people’s lives.

Strapped to a cannon, an Indian rebel finds themselves answering to a British officer for the crimes of Kanpur – an Indian uprising against British colonial forces.

Based on historical events, this new play comically satirises contemporary conflicts
around gender, colonial violence, and making art in times of crisis. But who is the hero and who is the villain? Whatever happens, it’s going to be explosive.

This edition of Kanpur: 1857, winner of the Pleasance’s Charlie Hartill Fund, was published to coincide with the production at the Pleasance Theatre, Edinburgh Festival Fringe in July 2025.