Poster for Second Trimester, showing Krishna Ishta and his mother, Geetha Shanka
Artwork by Josh Quinton, photos by Emily Drake
Theatre

Second Trimester

Krishna Istha & Geetha Shankar, directed by Milli Bhatia
Mon 11 May 2026, 19:15
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Based on a true story, Second Trimester asks: how well can you ever really know your parents?

Four years ago, Krishna told his mum he was trying to get pregnant and she freaked out. Like, massively freaked out. Krishna didn’t know why. It’s rare for a fight between them to end in tears. But this one did... and for good reason.

Love triangles. Missing people. A pregnant son.

In Second Trimester, trans performance artist Krishna Istha and his mother, Geetha Shankar, confront pregnancy, loss, gender, and the weight of inherited memories in this cinematic, Bollywood-inspired epic family saga. One Stage. Two Generations. Endless Drama

 

This show is a part of caravan assembly, a three-day event that presents contemporary performance made in England to an audience of international programmers and collaborators. The performances are open to the public as part of Brighton Festival and sit alongside a series of industry conversations and discussions for those participating in the assembly. caravan assembly is delivered by Farnham Maltings in partnership with Brighton Festival.

‘Addictive’
What's On Stage
‘An antidote of the age'
Irish Times

Watch The Trailer

Poster for Second Trimester, showing Krishna Ishta and his mother, Geetha Shanka
Trailer credit: Paralell Teeth

Find Out More

By Krishna Istha & Geetha Shankar

Directed by Milli Bhatia 

A Making Waves Major Commission by Battersea Arts Centre. Made possible with funding by Arts Council England and Cockayne 10th Anniversary Grants for the Arts. Additionally Commissioned by Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts, Cambridge Junction, The Lowry, Marlborough Productions, SICK! Festival, Unlimited.

**Stage timings are subject to change