Now under the artistic direction of Janet Steel, Kali’s work is being seen by even more diverse audiences on an even more regular basis due to annual touring and playreadings. The company has established a reputation for creating theatre that takes audiences on unpredictable journeys that inspire, excite and intrigue.

Kali’s unique nurturing of novice playwrights through Kali Shorts and Kali Futures enables new writers to be discovered and encouraged while giving them support and time to develop their work.

Kali’s commitment to the writer is creating opportunities for women who in the past have felt that certain subjects were difficult to discuss openly in a public forum, let alone acted out on stage. As Asian women are becoming more confident both publicly and privately, the content of their writing is beginning to force difficult subjects to be discussed and hidden issues to be unveiled.

Kali’s work is now seen more frequently and by more diverse audiences. Last year, over 3,000 people saw our productions and play readings across the UK.

Writers who have worked with Kali include Tanika Gupta, Rukhsana Ahmad, Gurpreet Bhatti, Shelley Silas, Manjinder Virk, Anu Kumar and Bettina Gracias, Yasmin Whittaker Khan and Azma Dar.

Janet Steel   Artistic Director
Janet has been Artistic Director of Kali Theatre Company since 2003. She began her career as an actress. Her theatre work includes: Cinders, A Colder Climate (Royal Court Theatre), Blood Wedding (Half Moon), Romeo and Juliet (Sherman Theatre & Albany Empire), Oedipus Rex (Tara Arts). Television credits include: An English Christmas, The Bride, Gems, The Refuge, Shalom Salaam. Janet began directing in 1988 as assistant to Tessa Schneideman at Loose Change Theatre, producing UK premiers at BAC by Spanish authors, where she directed her first full-length piece, White Biting Dog.  Directing includes: Behzti (The Birmingham Rep); April in Paris, Bretevski Street, A Hard Rain, Top Girls (Northampton Royal Theatre); Exodus (Millennium Mysteries at Coventry Belgrade); Brecht's Antigone, The Mother, Orpheus Descending, An Ideal Husband, Romeo & Juliet, The Knockey, Serious Money (Rose Bruford College). For Kali Theatre: Sock 'em with Honey by Bapsi Sidhwa, Calcutta Kosher by Shelley Silas, Chaos and Paper Thin by Azma Dar, Deadeye by Amber Lone, Zameen by Satinder Kaur Chohan (for Decibel) and A Thin Red Line by Sonali Bhattacharyya.