Perth’s Bengali diaspora marked a significant cultural milestone as Rangmanch Productions Australia staged ‘Hirak Rajar Deshe’ (‘In the country of the Diamond-King’) at the Don Russell Performing Arts Centre before a packed audience that included acclaimed filmmaker Sandip Ray.
The production, directed by Supriya Guha—who has been involved in professional Indian theatre in Perth since 2011—brought together children of the Bengali diaspora in a professionally mounted children’s theatre production that was widely praised for its creativity, confident performances, immersive stagecraft and innovative use of AI-assisted digital visuals.
Reflecting on the experience, Guha shared an emotional account of the evening, describing watching his son perform the iconic role of the Hirak Raja from the side wings.
He further described being overwhelmed by the response to the production. “I am emotional, speechless, proud, and deeply happy in a way that is difficult to describe,” Guha said.
“This was a professional children theatre production staged by Rangmanch Production with children of the Bengali diaspora in Perth, and the love pouring in since last night has been overwhelming. People have called the play mesmerising, and I accept that appreciation with gratitude.”
But he said the most powerful moment came quietly during the performance itself.
“My real moment came while watching my boy stand under the lights, deliver difficult Bengali dialogues with confidence, and connect so naturally with the audience… while his director stood silently in the wings with tears in his eyes.”
Guha also highlighted a defining moment of the evening when Sandip Ray praised the production and said it deserved to be staged in Kolkata. “That alone made the entire journey worthwhile,” he said.
The production drew deeply emotional responses from audience members and families involved in the show.
Audience members described the show as “mesmerising,” praising the storytelling, the visual presentation, and the young cast’s confident command of Bengali dialogue and strong stage presence, particularly given that for many it is a heritage language spoken outside their country of birth.
Saurav Gupta praised the lead performance, writing:
“Dodo was exemplary as Hirak Raja… the role being the toughest of the lot demanded perseverance, patience, diligence and immense hard work for a kid, let alone one like ours growing up so far from the roots.”
Deblina Sengupta added:
“Memorising that many lines… in practically a foreign language (to them!), and then delivering it with the confidence, body language and stage presence needed by an iconic Raja is a stupendous achievement. Perfect example of genes, guidance and sheer hard work working in unison. Bravo.”
The production was widely seen as an important cultural moment for Perth’s Bengali community, showcasing how diaspora theatre can preserve, reinterpret and pass on iconic works of Satyajit Ray to a new generation while blending tradition with contemporary stage innovation.
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