FOR THE LOVE OF PAPER
Written by Almitra Mavalvala, For the Love of Paper is inspired by real events, celebrating the enduring power of friendship, love, and human resilience.
Directed by Kersherka Sivakumaran.
Starring Antony Makhlouf & Joseph Raboy
ABOUT THE SHOW
“For the Love of Paper” is a heartwarming cross-cultural dramedy that follows the endearing duo of Kaveh and Amaliah, two best friends caught in the complex web of immigration laws in present-day Australia. Amaliah faces the terrifying prospect of deportation and Kaveh, her loyal friend, embarks on a mission to help her. This leads them down a series of comical misadventures.
The play explores themes of sacrifice, compromise, and the lengths we go for those we care about, all while celebrating the power of friendship and love. Through the lens of humour, we explore the intricate dance of bureaucracy and cultural clashes, finding joy in the unexpected misadventures that make us stronger.
The Approach
We take the responsibility of telling stories about marginalized communities very seriously, and as such, our production is deeply rooted in authentic narratives and thorough research.
By deeply engaging with the lived experiences of our team members and conducting thorough research, this production is imbued with truth and authenticity, crucial elements in portraying stories that represent marginalized communities. We recognize that this story does not speak for all South Asian peoples’ migration experiences, and there are nuances to each individual’s journey that need to be recognized and acknowledged when viewing shows of this nature. In our endeavors, we remain committed to portraying relevant communities fairly and continuously strive to improve our approach in doing so.
The Bigger Picture
By delving into the complexities of immigration and cultural diversity, we shed light on the lived experiences of individuals navigating these challenges. It’s an important contribution to the broader conversation about multicultural Australia, emphasising unity in diversity and the strength that arises from embracing our shared humanity.
Producers: Almitra Mavalvala and Kersherka Sivakumaran
Director Kersherka Sivakumaran
Actors: Almitra Mavalvala, Antony Makhlouf and Joseph Raboy
Set Designer Paris Bell
Lighting Designer Jasmin Borsovszky
Sound Designer: Almitra Mavalvala
Costume Designer Rita Naidu
Dramaturg Suz Mawer
Production Manager: Emma Van Veen
Stage Manager / Lighting and Sound Operator Zachary Hanlon
Poster Design: Antony Makhlouf
The Team
“At its best, story telling is an articulation of experience. It is reaching out into nothingness and hoping even one person reaches back. Watching ‘For the Love of Paper,’ I felt myself and the entire audience reaching back - in laughter, in stillness and in applause.”
-SAARI COLLECTIVE
MEDIA REVIEWS
“A gorgeously honest portrayal of a love, culture and friendship amidst the theatrical maze of Australia’s immigration laws.”
-THEATRE THOUGHTS
“Theatre, when it’s created from an honest place, can build empathy by shining a stage light on things that people commonly feel, but rarely speak about, and For the Love of Paper does this masterfully.”
-THEATRE TRAVELS
AUDIENCE FEEDBACK
“A heartfelt show that gets Diversity right. Stories like this need our support to pave the way for our theatre”
-Shayan Askari
Raises questions many of us don’t really consider. I’ll be thinking about it for a long time to come
-Indrani Bandyopadhyay
“I felt as if I was right there in the apartment with these characters, an unforgettable experience. The beauty and pain of their story is tangible”
-Tim Cunniffe
We’re looking to return
After an incredibly succesful first season we are looking for the right venue to program the show for another season. Following a profitable first season and having a dedicated team, we are well positioned to perform again.
Send an email to almitra.z.mavalvala@gmail.com if you’d like to chat further.