The Empress (play)
The Empress is a 2013 historical drama by Tanika Gupta. It was commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company and premiered in Stratford-upon-Avon. The play has been studied in schools, featuring on the GCSE curriculum, and appeared as an unseen drama extract in the 2014 Junior Certificate English exam.
Plot overview:
In 1887, Ayah Rani Das travels from India to London with her employer’s family and falls in love with Hari, a lascar sailor. On the journey she meets Indian figures Dadabhai Naoroji, his assistant Gandhi, and Abdul Karim, who is sent to Britain as a gift to Queen Victoria for her Golden Jubilee.
After arriving in London, Rani is abandoned by the family at the dock. She finds supporters but also loses touch with Hari. She is taken in by Lord John Oakham, who wants an ayah for his household but forces her into a non-consensual relationship and sacks her when she becomes pregnant. She fears for her child but is cared for by Lascar Sally, who runs a seamen’s home, then by the Ayahs’ Home.
Rani becomes secretary to Naoroji, who later becomes Britain’s second Asian Member of Parliament in 1892. Abdul Karim grows closer to Queen Victoria, teaching her Urdu and Persian, having his portrait painted, and discussing imperial policy. Naoroji becomes disappointed with his limited progress in Parliament and decides to return to India, inviting Rani to accompany him.
Hari returns to try to reconcile with Rani, and they begin to repair their relationship. As Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee approaches, she is pressured not to appoint Abdul as a Companion of the Indian Empire, though she dreams of a closer connection with India.
After Victoria’s death, Abdul’s papers are burned by her successor Edward VII, and he is sent back to the Agra estate. The play ends with themes of empire, love, and belonging.
Reception:
Reviewers praised The Empress for its engaging drama and potential to become a film, with critics calling it a fascinating production.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 13:07 (CET).