Created & Performed by Varun Narain & Shaad Qureshi

Directed by: Cliff Moustache

Produced by Jarl Solberg

Duration: 45 minutes

Language: English (with some dialogues in Urdu, which are translated to spoken English. )

Format:  Live theatrical performance with puppetry, acting, multimedia, and audience interaction

SYNOPSIS

In this powerful performance, a queer botanist and a poet survive life threatening hostilities by connecting with fungi and plants who reveal their botanical secrets and guiding the characters to confront and reframe the violent experiences they’ve endured. “Dark and Delicious” supported by Safemuse and The Nordic Black theatre has been presented at The Safe Havens Conference in Athens in November 2023 followed by repeated stagings at The Nordic Black Theatre, Three in March 2024, two in June, under Oslo Pride 2024 and four performances in April 2025.

 Link : Dark & Delicious for Oslo Pride

Presented as a solo performance as well as in collaboration with other artists, this character is a poetic and poignant symbol of the naturalness of gender fluidity. Raja the King - a life sized puppet character is inspired by a Norwegian forest in Autmn and celebrates the colors and beauty of transition.

Link: Raja the Queen for Open Drag Stage, Oslo

Nasheeli the Queer fluid witch has the ability to breahte without Oxygen. This makes her a mistress of the realm of Alchocol. Based on the scientific principles of anaerobic respiration, fermentation and the formation of wine from fruits, this life sized character appears in solo performances at events, drag performances and theatreical productions. 

Nasheeli was introduced as an observing character in the theatrical production of 'Giovanni's Room' for Oslo Pride 2025 at The Nordic Black Theatre and more recently at 'The House of Shadows' Drag performance in Oslo.

Duration: 45minutes

Language: English with some songs from Bollywood

Created & Performed by Varun Narain

SYNOPSIS

In an ancient text in India, it says that ‘a puppeteer is a soul in search of a body, and a puppet is a body in search of a soul’.  This performance is located at the intersection of the arts of puppetry and drag. A revisiting of the closeted life in the 1980’s and a celebration of ‘Disco’ the world of dolls manipulate a puppeteer to cross over the boundaries of gender, reality and art. 

‘Dragged OUT!’ was supported  The Oslo Drag Festival 2024 and Go Figure Internasjonal Figurteater Festival. It was performed at Pyrimiden, SALT in Oslo on 31st May, 2024 and was invited to The Barents Pride in Kirkenes, September 2024.