We’re excited to share that That Which Is Heard will have its world premiere at DOC NYC 2025. This intimate documentary captures the story of actress Shruti Kothari, who, after a life-altering stroke, reconnects with her artistic voice through collaboration, resilience, and the power of theatre.
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ABOUT THAT WHICH IS HEARD:
THAT WHICH IS HEARD is an intimate documentary that follows actress Shruti Kothari, whose Dora Award–winning performance in Howland’s Casimir and Caroline captivated audiences in January 2020. But just weeks after the show closed — and only days before the pandemic shut down theatres worldwide — Shruti’s life changed dramatically when she suffered a stroke at the age of 30.
Her road to recovery is chronicled on screen as she and her three close friends—Ruth Goodwin (The Howland Company), Liz Johnston (The Second City), and acclaimed director Ravi Jain (Why Not Theatre/The Stratford Festival) join forces to create a deeply personal storytelling show reflecting Shruti’s experiences, her complex relationship with theatre after her stroke, and the profound changes in her life since that pivotal moment.
Directed by Ken Pham and produced by Ruth Goodwin, Kirthiga Rajanayagam and Shruti Kothari, That Which Is Heard marks The Howland Company’s first foray into film and documentary storytelling — expanding our commitment to bold, collaborative, and community-rooted work beyond the stage.
On Sunday, November 16, we’re heading to DOC NYC 2025 — the largest documentary film festival in the United States and one of the most prestigious showcases for nonfiction storytelling in the world — for the film’s world premiere!
About DOC NYC:
DOC NYC is one of the largest and most influential documentary film festivals in the United States, recognized as a premier showcase for groundbreaking nonfiction storytelling from around the world. Each November, the festival transforms New York City into a hub for the global documentary community — bringing together visionary filmmakers, distributors, critics, and audiences to celebrate bold voices, cinematic innovation, and the power of real stories to shape culture.
The Howland Company 