A bold, immersive exploration of queer storytelling is coming to Bankside. Chai with Rai, the acclaimed audio storytelling platform founded by multidisciplinary artist Raimu Itfum, has announced its latest project in collaboration with the London LGBTQ+ Community Centre: “An Ode: Reframing the Classics.” This captivating audio series will be unveiled in a specially curated public exhibition running 24 May – 14 June, and promises to reimagine traditional narratives through a queer, diasporic lens.
Set within the vibrant and welcoming atmosphere of the LGBTQ+ Community Centre, the exhibition is free and open to the public, offering an intimate, multisensory experience. At its heart are five original short audio stories created by groundbreaking LGBTQ+ and South Asian artists: Amar Bains, Rupinder Kaur, Tarek Khwiss, Punya Rajput, and Anthony Pius. Each piece reframes personal and cultural histories, myths, and classical tropes in radically honest and imaginative ways.
The Stories: Queering the Familiar
- Fire in my Room by Amar Bains
- What the Waves Remember: Amrit Kaur by Rupinder Kaur
- Confessions by Tarek Khwiss
- The Sari Chronicles by Anthony Pius
- The Sabhā No Longer Stands by Punya Rajput
These evocative tales span themes of longing, ancestral memory, gender expression, spiritual reclamation, and queer joy. The audio works will be accompanied by short films and visual art installations by LGBTQ+ artists, creating a layered sensory experience that invites listeners and viewers to reflect, witness, and celebrate multiplicity in identity and heritage.
Creative Leadership: A Vision for Inclusive Storytelling
At the helm is Raimu Itfum (he/him), the series’ Producer and Director, whose eclectic artistic practice spans theatre, film, dance, and audio. With an impressive resume – including projects at the Young Vic, Soho Theatre, and Donmar Warehouse – Itfum continues to push boundaries in form and representation. His previous audio works, such as Soli|tidue and Symphonies of Beaded Threads, have already cemented his place as a dynamic voice in contemporary queer storytelling.
Joining him is Bethany Henry Gemmell, LLM (he/they), a Northern playwright and Dramaturg known for works like WOLF at Theatre503 and well, you could be a guy (non-binary edition). With their deep commitment to emotionally rich, community-rooted storytelling, Bethany brings vital dramaturgical support to the artists of An Ode, continuing their own trajectory of queering canonical spaces.
A Platform for Intersectional Voices
More than an exhibition, An Ode: Reframing the Classics is a call to action – a declaration that queer voices deserve space in the canon, in the archive, and in the future. With its powerful lineup of stories and artists, the series honours intergenerational memory while building something fresh and unapologetically current.
This initiative reflects Chai with Rai’s ongoing mission to nurture inclusive, artist-led storytelling spaces – especially for queer, diasporic, and underrepresented communities. By partnering with the London LGBTQ+ Community Centre, the project stands at the intersection of culture, identity, and activism.
Visit the Exhibition
Exhibition Dates:
24 May – 14 June 2025
Location: London LGBTQ+ Community Centre, Bankside
Entry: FREE to the public
For fans of experimental audio, queer history, and immersive storytelling, An Ode: Reframing the Classics is not to be missed. It’s a reimagining of what “classics” can mean – offered with pride, passion, and a warm cup of chai.