‘People who need charms. You’ll know them when you meet them’ - Nana Josie, Artichoke Hearts.
Artichoke Hearts
Winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Award 2011. Longlisted for the Carnegie Medal 2012
Bhuchar Boulevard has secured the rights to acclaimed author Sita Brahmachari's award-winning debut novel, Artichoke Hearts, which launched her prolific career in 2011.
Artichoke Hearts is a beautiful ‘coming of age’ story which follows a month in the life of 11 year old Mira Levenson when her world spins out of control. Seeking privacy, Mira pours her secrets into a journal; her beloved bohemian grandmother, Nana Josie, is dying, she is drifting away from her best friend & is falling in love with mysterious Jidé Jackson, an adopted refugee from Rwanda with secrets of his own!
Nana Josie bequeaths her artichoke heart charm to Mira in the hope that it will teach her about the many layered secrets of the human heart. But can it really offer consolation in the face of such huge loss?
The book was heralded as one of the top 50 books celebrating diversity since the 1950’s by The Guardian. It’s now a contemporary classic and Macmillan celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2021 with a new updated edition.
Rosie Harrison
Artichoke Hearts was written in homage to an extraordinary bohemian artist, humanitarian & grandmother, Sita’s late mother-in-law Rosie Harrison.
The book is now shared across the generations and speaks to readers in this changed world with even more resonance. Artichoke Hearts is the first of the Mira Levenson trilogy followed by Jasmine Skies and Tender Earth. The emotional heart of the novel lends itself to a powerful theatrical adaptation.
Sudha Bhuchar is adapting Artichoke Hearts through an enriching co creative experience with children in Years 6 and 7(the same age as Mira and her friends in the book) and is supported by Dramaturg, Carl Miller.
Artichoke Hearts explores a truly 21st century British family encompassing South Asian Hindu, Christian, Agnostic & Jewish; a ‘lived multiculturalism’ with all its complexity &universality-still rarely seen on stage. Being of mixed heritage is UK’s fastest growing demographic and the play will offer diverse audiences a powerful experience of seeing themselves reflected in the work.
Today’s children are reading Artichoke Hearts through the lens of living through a pandemic & partner schools have confirmed that Bhuchar Boulevard’s workshops and the project offers a platform to ‘normalise’ difficult conversations around grief with its depiction of a ‘good’ death. Many children have experienced loss of loved ones for the first time & to explore these themes in the context of celebration, first love & friendship sends a life affirming message of hope.
Confirmed partners are Z-Arts/ Big Imaginations (core partners for Child of the Divide in 2017) and Wimbledon Bookfest (partner for Child of the Divide and hosted Evening Conversations in 2019).
Artichoke Hearts Schools Workshops
Workshop Participant Reviews
‘Made me realise that you’re not alone when it comes to tough situations.’
‘I found it calming. I was putting myself in the book like Mira.’
‘I like how we brought different styles to the writing and made it one.’
‘The best thing was writing a ‘turning point’ in my life.’
‘Saying our things, louder and louder, it’s like you’re growing in confidence.’
‘I was thinking I shouldn’t say anything. Then everyone else is opening up, why shouldn’t I?’
‘It was like we were in Pat Print’s workshop in the book.’
‘The workshop showed me I can take some things in my life and change it. And never run out of ideas. I’ve always wanted to be an author’
‘The play can show the things that are going on in your head’
Bespoke workshops and talks have now taken place in the following London schools:
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, Kensington Aldridge Academy, Raynes Park High, Southfields Academy, Graveney, Ursuline High, Richards Lodge, St Marys Primary Wimbledon, Joseph Hood Primary and Fortismere schools.
Sudha and Carl explored the book and its big themes- first love, grief, family, and friendship with children who are facing the same turning points in their lives as Mira and her contemporaries. The resulting conversations and material from these workshops are informing the adaptation. These encounters affirmed the resonance of this project -as a springboard for schools to explore creativity and difficult conversations with children who have endured remote schooling and isolation for long periods, and for inter-generational audiences to come together and reflect on their own experiences.
This R and D phase is funded by Arts Council England & Wandsworth Borough Council and culminates in a sharing for school audiences of the work-in-progress, with a talk by Sita and Sudha at Wimbledon Theatre. This event is hosted by Wimbledon Bookfest.
Bhuchar Boulevard is building this work incrementally and will curate engagement activity that amplifies the messages of wellbeing, love, and grief as a ‘necessary heartbreak’ that can enhance empathy.
Bhuchar Boulevard aspires to mount the show in 2023.
What People Are Saying
"A beautifully written book about family, friendship, grief and hope which made me laugh and cry sometimes at the same time"
— Anthony Browne, Children's Laureate (2009-2011)
“I can't believe it's been eleven years since 'Artichoke Hearts' won the Waterstones Children's book prize, leading to all the stories I have written since. Writing into childhood is deeply connected for me with working with young people through community and theatre. I am excited to see how the magical layers of the artichoke charm unfold in Sudha's hands for theatre. The time feels right”
— Sita Brahmachari, author Artichoke Hearts
“Thank you for running such a wonderful workshop with the girls. Discussion, exploration, and creativity are at the heart of what we do. We are particularly keen to explore Artichoke Hearts with our Year 7 students given the themes explored in the text. Moreover, we are very keen to return to the theme of friendship and ideas around building positive relationships and working together given that they have missed out on so much of this this year.”
— Eleanor Hirst- English department, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School
"This is the most honest, emotionally affecting children's book I've read for some time. I defy anyone to read it without crying."
— Sarah Clarke (children's buying manager Waterstones) Full Article
“We’re thrilled to have this opportunity. I love watching when works of genius are wrung out of kids who had no idea they were producing villanelles! I’m so looking forward to the finished Artichoke Hearts project!”
— Gill Ward- Librarian, Fortismere school
“As part of our Literary Festival, we at Kensington Aldridge Academy were delighted to have Sita Brahmachari, Sudha Bhuchar and Carl Miller. Sita enthralled years 9 & 8 with her talks, inspiring a next generation of writers (and charcoal doodlers!). Sudha & Carl's workshop with a group of Year 7 students was a real treat, the students were thrilled to be part of shaping the stage version of Sita's Artichoke Hearts, and the 90-minute session absolutely flew by.”
— Tom Dickinson, Librarian Kensington Aldridge Academy
“I just wanted to thank you again for the brilliant workshop. It was really quite emotional to see our girls respond to the tasks in the way they did and open up in such a raw and honest way - that really is the power of great writing and storytelling. ”
— Alice Haggar, KS3 Co-ordinator for English, Ricards Lodge High
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