Story
At a moment when cultural representation should be non-negotiable, we are working to ensure South Asian migration stories are not only told but honoured. Despite South Asian communities being one of the largest and fastest-growing groups in the UK, their voices remain significantly underrepresented on British stages, screens, and in heritage spaces.
Maya Productions is launching a new fundraising appeal to raise £5,000 for Routes to Roots, our South Asian Heritage Programme, and the development of Benny and the Greycats, our new musical.
Coronation Street actor, Shelley King, on the power of stories:
Growing up Anglo-Indian, it was rare to see myself, my community, and the wider South Asian diaspora reflected on stage, screen, in museums, and galleries. Each year of the programme lifts the veil on stories, creativity and powerful performances that reveal something new about UK South Asian communities. These stories cry out to be seen and heard now, preserved, and ultimately archived for future generations." - Suzanne Gorman, Artistic Director
Maya Productions is a small but ambitious theatre, arts and heritage company. We work to expose and dismantle barriers, demystify theatre, arts, and heritage processes, and champion diverse role models. We bring together people from different backgrounds, celebrate diverse cultures, and give a platform to stories that too often go unheard.
Since we began our Routes to Roots project in 2023, we are proud to have:
🔹Toured productions to 13 UK cities and towns, including London, Sheffield, Bristol, Birmingham and beyond.
🔹Delivered 200+ participatory workshops and engaged with 4,700 participants.
🔹Presented work to audiences and exhibition visitors of 15,701.
🔹Contracted 152 freelance artistic practitioners, 91% from global majority backgrounds.
🔹Staged 47 performances and curated 2 exhibitions.
🔹Showcased 45 new plays by young playwrights and presented 16 community performance events
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Our work is having a powerful impact on our participants and audiences.
Your donation will contribute to:
🔸The creation of an exhibition in Bradford, showcasing the inspirational work of our collaborators. The exhibition will cover themes of migration, home, heritage, family, and cultural identity, preserving their voices and forming an archive of diverse, personal narratives that will endure over time.
🔸The production of a unique documentary that showcases the poetry and life stories of a group of women at the WomenZone community centre in Bradford, amplifying powerful migration and settlement stories for South Asian and wider public audiences.
🔸The development of our new musical, Benny and The Greycats, to increase representation within the theatre and arts for South Asian groups. Benny tells the migration story of an Anglo-Indian family of railway workers and musicians from India to England in the 1960s.
It is a story everyone should see. All migrants, politicians, the local Sheffield Diaspora. It is a show that would greatly educate people about what it is and how it feels to leave your home and settle in a different place.” - John Rwothomack, Audience member
Every contribution helps ensure these powerful South Asian stories are shared, remembered, and not lost.
We can’t do it without you, so thank you for considering being part of Maya’s family. We’d love to welcome you.
In Routes to Roots, our stories show the threads that connect us rather than divide us.” - Participant
REWARDS⭐
How it works: every donation tier includes all the rewards from the tiers above, so the more you give, the more you receive!
£5, £10 , £25, £40– every bit makes a difference
Get a nod: you will have access to our newsletter for regular updates on our short film, the exhibition and behind-the-scenes for the musical!
£50 or more
Art-lovers: Enter a raffle for two stall tickets for The Book of Mormon, the hilarious multi-award-winning musical at the West End! Redeemable until December 2025.
£100 or more
Show some love: we will thank you in the credits of the programme of the musical and the exhibition. We want people to know you’re part of the family!
£150 or more
Video Chitchat: Be the first to receive the link for our documentary film, and chat with the creative team in a video call to talk about the themes that interest you the most, from film-making to heritage stories.
£200 or more
Behind-the-scenes magic: be part of the creative journey for Benny and the Greycats. We’ll invite you to an early-stage creative session, where you’ll be able to talk to the creative team. It may be a while before rehearsals begin, so you’ll be among the first to step into the world!
Early Bird: Join us as a special guest at the launch of our Routes to Roots Exhibition or at the premiere of Benny and the Greycats. These will happen on different dates, and we'll make sure that we keep you in the loop so that you can join us.
When will I receive my rewards?
⭐Our Bradford exhibition is scheduled for October 2025.
⭐The Book of Mormon tickets will be sent your way as soon as the appeal ends for you to use this Autumn.
⭐The packages involving the documentary and musical may take a little while because we are still in development. This is why everyone gets access to our newsletter, so you can stay up-to-date on everything.
⭐The making process of Benny and the Greycats requires meticulous work, research, previews and bringing together numerous people, which might influence our planned timeframe. This could take up to two years. Schedules and workflows may vary, but we won’t stop until these stories are told, shared, and preserved! And you’ll be walking alongside us the whole ride.