Epic Actors’ Workshop brings together the gems of South Asian Theater that are interspersed all over the United States through an annual theater festival. This is a culmination of decades of community-based theater work that the South Asian diaspora has engaged in. It primarily showcases productions of US-based theater groups presenting plays from the different regions of India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nepal. Through the display of theatrical artistic excellence, we try to connect the diverse cultural entities breaking through geographical and cultural boundaries and at the same time celebrating the differences.
Epic Actors’ Workshop was started in 1988 and by the early nineties, it became a fledgling performance group in New Jersey. It transformed itself rapidly, embracing the diversity of South Asian Communities. Over the years, Epic has broadened its mission to showcase and underscore the importance of South Asian theater and arts and extended it to mainstream Americans. In 2011, Epic’s success in community-based activities culminated in joining forces with Crossroads Theater in New Brunswick to reach another level of accomplishment and audience outreach. Over its existence and many endeavors, Epic has tackled difficult topics, ranging from women’s rights to the issue of separation of religion and state, to the environment, to the trials and tribulations of South Asian youth growing up in Modern America. There were numerous plays representing diverse communities from South Asia and our next generation as well.