# Life of Pi (play)

Life of Pi is a play based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Yann Martel adapted for the stage by Lolita Chakrabarti.
The play premiered in June 2019 at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield before transferring to the Wyndham's Theatre in London's West End in November 2021. The play won five Laurence Olivier Awards (including Best New Play), five UK Theatre Awards (including Best New Play) and Best New Play at the WhatsOnStage Awards.

## Production history
### Sheffield (2019)

The play was commissioned by producer Simon Friend, and after a series of workshops over two years, made its world premiere at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield running from 28 June until 20 July 2019. The play is directed by Max Webster.

### London (2021-2023)

Following the success of the Sheffield run, the play opened in London's West End at the Wyndham's Theatre, produced by Simon Friend, beginning previews on 15 November 2021, with an official opening on 2 December. The play was originally due to open in June 2020 however was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Following extensions to the run due to popular demand, the play closed on 15 January 2023. The production was filmed live by National Theatre Live and will be broadcast to cinemas from 30 March 2023.

### A.R.T. and Broadway (2023)

The play made its North American premiere at the A.R.T in Cambridge, Massachusetts running from December 4, 2022 to January 29, 2023 before opening on Broadway at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on March 30, 2023 (with previews from March 9). The cast from the A.R.T. run reprised their roles with Hiran Abeysekera reprising his Olivier Award-winning role as Pi (with Adi Dixit who played Pi in the A.R.T. run joining as the Alternate Pi) with Fred Davis and Scarlet Wilderink reprising their Olivier Award-winning role of Richard Parker (joining the A.R.T. puppeteering team). The Broadway production closed on July 23, 2023. Abeysekera departed the production on July 9, 2023 with Uma Paranjpe playing the title role for the remaining performances.

### UK & Ireland Tour (2023-24)

The play began a UK and Ireland tour, returning to Sheffield at the Lyceum Theatre on 29 August 2023 and is scheduled to tour until July 2024. Divesh Subaskaran is playing the title role of Pi, in his professional debut, and Romina Hytten reprising her Olivier Award winning role of Richard Parker.

### Planned North American Tour (2024)

In June 2023, it was announced that the Broadway production will embark on a North American national tour in Fall 2024 with locations, cities, and casting to be announced.

## Cast and characters

| Character | Sheffield | London | Cambridge | Broadway | UK & Ireland Tour |
| Character | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2023 |
| Pi | Hiran Abeysekera | Hiran Abeysekera | Adi Dixit | Hiran Abeysekera | Divesh Subaskaran |
| Ma | Mina Anwar | Mina Anwar | Mahira Kakkar | Mahira Kakkar | Goldy Notay |
| Richard Parker the Tiger | Kate Colebrook Fred Davis Owain Gwynn | Fred Davis Tom Larkin Daisy Franks Scarlet Wilderink Romina Hytten Tom Stacy | Nikki Calonga Rowan Magee Celia Mei Rubin | Fred Davis Scarlet Wilderink Nikki Calonge Rowan Ian Seamus Magee Jonathan David Martin Betsy Rosen Celia Mei Rubin Andrew Wilson | Sebastian Goffin Akash Heer Peter Twose Romina Hytten Katie Kennedy-Rose Kate Roswell Antony Antunes Aizah Khan |
| Pi's Father | Kammy Darweish | Nicholas Khan | Rajesh Bose | Rajesh Bose | Ralph Birtwell |
| Rani | Tara Divina | Payal Mistry | Sonya Venugopal | Sonya Venugopal | Keshini Misha |
| Father Martin / Commander Grant-Jones | Tom Espiner | Tom Espiner | Avery Glymph | Avery Glymph | Antony Antunes Peter Twose |
| Mamaji / Pandit-Ji | Raj Ghatak | Raj Ghatak | Sathya Sridharan | Sathya Sridharan | Chand Martinez |
| Mrs Biology Kumar / Zaida Khan | Syreeta Kumar | Syreeta Kumar | Salma Qarnain | Salma Qarnain | Sharita Oomeer |
| Mr Okamoto | David K. S. Tse | David K. S. Tse | Daisuke Tsuji | Daisuke Tsuji | Lilian Tsang |
| The Cook / The voice of the Tiger | Habib Nasib Nader | Habib Nasib Nader | Brian Thomas Abraham | Brian Thomas Abraham | Antony Antunes Peter Twose |
| Lulu Chen | Gabby Wong | Kirsten Foster | Kirstin Louie | Kirstin Louie | Bhwana Bhwasar |
| Pi (alternate) | - | Nuwan Hugh Perera | Uma Paranjpe | Adi Dixit, Uma Paranjpe | Adwitha Arumugam |

## Reception

The play received rave reviews from critics and audiences in both the Sheffield and London productions.

## Awards and nominations
### Sheffield production

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2019 | UK Theatre Awards | Best New Play | Best New Play | Won |
| 2019 | UK Theatre Awards | Best Director | Max Webster | Won |
| 2019 | UK Theatre Awards | Best Design | Nick Barnes, Finn Caldwell, Carolyn Downing, Andrzej Goulding, Tim Hatley and Tim Lutkin | Won |
| 2019 | UK Theatre Awards | Best Performance in a Play | Hiran Abeysekera | Won |
| 2020 | WhatsOnStage Awards | Best New Play | Best New Play | Won |
| 2020 | WhatsOnStage Awards | Best Regional Production | Best Regional Production | Nominated |

### London production

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2022 | Laurence Olivier Awards | Best New Play | Best New Play | Won |
| 2022 | Laurence Olivier Awards | Best Director | Max Webster | Nominated |
| 2022 | Laurence Olivier Awards | Best Actor | Hiran Abeysekera | Won |
| 2022 | Laurence Olivier Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Fred Davis, Daisy Franks, Romina Hytten, Tom Larkin, Habib Nasib Nader, Tom Stacy and Scarlet Wilderink | Won |
| 2022 | Laurence Olivier Awards | Best Sound Design | Carolyn Downing | Nominated |
| 2022 | Laurence Olivier Awards | Best Lighting Design | Andrzej Goulding and Tim Lutkin | Won |
| 2022 | Laurence Olivier Awards | Best Set Design | Tim Hatley (set), Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell (puppetry) | Won |
| 2022 | Laurence Olivier Awards | Best Theatre Choreographer | Finn Caldwell | Nominated |
| 2022 | Laurence Olivier Awards | Best Original Score or New Orchestrations | Andrew T. Mackay | Nominated |

### Broadway Production

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2023 | Tony Awards | Best Direction of a Play | Max Webster | Nominated |
| 2023 | Tony Awards | Best Scenic Design of a Play | Tim Hatley and Andrzej Goulding | Won |
| 2023 | Tony Awards | Best Costume Design of a Play | Tim Hatley, Nick Barnes, and Finn Caldwell | Nominated |
| 2023 | Tony Awards | Best Lighting Design of a Play | Tim Lutkin | Won |
| 2023 | Tony Awards | Best Sound Design of a Play | Carolyn Downing | Won |
| 2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Direction of a Play | Max Webster | Won |
| 2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play | Hiran Abeysekera | Nominated |
| 2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play | Tim Hatley | Won |
| 2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Video or Projection Design | Andrzej Goulding | Won |
| 2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Puppetry | Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell | Won |
| 2023 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Play | Outstanding Production of a Play | Nominated |
| 2023 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance | Hiran Abeysekera | Nominated |
| 2023 | Theatre World Awards | Outstanding Debut Performance | Hiran Abeysekera | Won |
| 2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Broadway Play | Outstanding New Broadway Play | Nominated |
| 2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Director of a Play | Max Webster | Nominated |
| 2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play | Hiran Abeysekera | Nominated |
| 2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Lighting Design (Play or Musical) | Tim Lutkin | Won |
| 2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Video or Projection Design (Play or Musical) | Andrzej Goulding | Won |