New play explores 'lifelong loss' of inter-country adoption through comedy
Chenturan Aran's acerbic first play, Cut Chilli, was one of the most hyped shows in Sydney in 2024. It just made its debut in Melbourne.
New play Cut Chilli, which premiered in Sydney in 2024, delves into the lifelong struggle of inter-country adoption through a humorous lens. The critically acclaimed play earned five stars from the Sydney Herald and several award nominations at the 2025 NSW Literary Awards, though it did not win. Written by Chenturan Aran, the story follows Jamie, a Sri Lankan-born individual who was adopted by white parents as a baby, and his girlfriend Zahra.
Together, they navigate the complexities of belonging, identity, and family dynamics during a dinner party with Jamie's parents and uncle. Aran drew inspiration for the play from Esther Perel's podcast Where Should We Begin?, which touched on a family's struggle to accept their inter-country adopted daughter. This sparked Aran's interest in exploring the topic further, particularly through the lens of critical race theory and his own experiences as a student and theatre enthusiast.
Cut Chilli emphasizes the grief some inter-country adoptees feel about losing connection to their birth families and the challenges of tracing their roots, while also celebrating the pride found in embracing one's heritage.
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