Nautanki Theatre’s Orko, written by Saurabh Bhattacharya, closely follows Shakespeare’s Othello, adapting it to the local Indian diaspora. The result is a timely and culturally resonant drama that explores love, jealousy, belonging and domestic violence through a distinctly Australian lens. The production was staged at Riverside Theatres’ Live @ PHIVE in Parramatta from 30 July to 1 August 2026
At the centre of the story is Orko Sanyal, a hardworking migrant who has spent almost three decades building a successful life in Australia, including a chain of restaurants bearing his name. During a visit to Calcutta, he meets Damini, a young woman who captivates him. Their rapid romance and marriage appear to offer Orko a new beginning, but on their return to Sydney, tensions emerge within their relationship and among their friends, especially his close mate, Vish Banerjee
What makes Orko compelling is its interrogation from within a contemporary migrant community. The familiar themes of outsider identity, possessiveness, suspicion and manipulation—take on new meaning when placed against the experiences of Indian Australians negotiating family expectations, cultural identity and social status.
The play’s attention to Damini, rather than treating her primarily as the victim, Orko places her experience closer to the heart of the work. This gives the production a sharper contemporary purpose, particularly in its examination of domestic violence and the way its effects extend beyond a couple to families, friendships and the wider community
Orko’s personal anxieties are not presented in isolation; they are shaped by migration, masculinity, reputation and the pressure to preserve an apparently successful life. That combination gives the drama emotional weight while also making the story relevant to audiences well beyond the South Asian community.
Orko modernises an old tragedy—it asks whose stories are heard, whose suffering is overlooked and how violence can remain hidden behind respectability.
All the actors delivered strong performances, with Neel Banerjee stealing the show as Vish, the scheming mastermind who poisons Orko’s mind by planting seeds of suspicion about Damini’s alleged infidelity and extramarital affair.
- Director: Joyraj Bhattacharjee
- Cast: Aparupa Samanta, Balarka Banerjee, Rupayan Ghosh & Neel Banerjee, Rima Sen, Sanjeev Raja
- Lead creative: Joyraj Bhattacharjee
- Creative assistance: Neel Banerjee
- Set design: Soham Apte
- Lighting design: Rajdeep Roy
- Styling & wardrobe: Rajshri Roy
- Photos: Kaushik Kukade, Capturing Expression Photography
Orko was supported by the NSW government through Create NSW.
Nautanki Theatre’s production represents an important contribution to Sydney’s multicultural theatre scene. By bringing a South Asian Australian story to the stage, Orko demonstrates how classic works can be reinterpreted to speak directly to contemporary communities.
It is a thoughtful, confronting and worthwhile piece of theatre; one that stays with the audience after the final scene.
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