London dates for MA Acting grads new show

A theatre company formed at LIPA is to perform its “deeply personal” new play at two fringe venues in London.  

With You is produced by The Reverie and is written by and features Yuvraj Bhatia and Irina Ivanova, who both graduated from LIPA’s MA Acting course in 2023.  

The performances at Drayton Arms Theatre, South Kensington (2 & 3 February) and The Bread & Rose Theatre, Clapham (22-26 April) follow a successful preview in October. 

We spoke to Yuvraj and Irina about With You, their collaboration and their time at LIPA. 

Tell us about With You - what can audiences expect?  

Yuvraj: With You portrays a bond that forms between two ‘lost souls’, and how through it, they uncover layers of their deeper selves. It’s experimental, taking a character and mood-based focus on what it’s like to experience such a relationship.  

Irina: It’s about finding connections in the most unexpected places, choosing the right people and finding the strength to let them in.   

What was the inspiration for With You - and how did your collaboration come about?  

Y: Just a string of failed relationships honestly! Get through enough of them and you have yourself a show!  

But our collaboration started at LIPA when we discovered our shared love for works with deeply personal and introspective themes. We also enjoyed challenging each other in rehearsals and slowly started helping each other share artistic responsibility.  

I: It’s personal to both of us individually as we found common ground in our appreciation of the people around us. We’ve always believed that the essence of being a human being is how we relate to each other. That shared philosophy really forms the basis of our work and collaboration. 

Image: Irina and Yuvraj performing at LIPA 

What did you learn at LIPA that's been particularly useful in producing With You?  

I: Before LIPA I had never created my own work. Being there taught me how to do that, from freewriting sessions to workshopping how to conduct an entire rehearsal process, it all led to us learning how to produce our own work.   

Y: I personally could go on and on – that’d be a whole different show!   

But if there’s two things that I’d say above all else: vulnerability and ease. 

The MA course that we were enrolled on was really transformative for me. We had a great cohort of teachers, and their guidance gave me the tools to allow myself to take creative risks with boldness and surety.   

What's next for With You and what's next for you?  

I: We’re hoping we can bring it to more venues very soon. We’ve also got another exciting project in the works right now… some exciting stuff to look forward to! 

Find out more about our MA Acting course

What’s on Drayton Arms Theatre

What’s on The Bread & Rose Theatre