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While many of us contemplate what we might like to receive for our birthdays, actress Nishanthi Bailey is more concerned about what she can give.

Best known for her local and overseas performances as a lead actress, she has decided to produce, perform and direct a one-woman theatrical show written by an award-winning playwright while raising and donating no less than $30,000 for charity and community endeavours.

This is how Bailey wishes to celebrate her 30th birthday and the festivities take place from May 21 to 24 at Daylesford Theatre, Hamilton, from 7pm nightly.

The beneficiaries include drug prevention charity PRIDE, the Nadanja and Nishanthi N’tertainment “N3” Scholarship, the Coalition of Drama Educators and thirty active charities subject to a charity draw.

The play, titled Chains, is based on the true story of a Bronx father who chained his drug-addict daughter to a radiator for a week to stop her from relapsing.

Bailey said: “2013 was a pivotal year of reflection as I thought about approaching my 30th birthday this year. “I began to create a bucket list, reflect on my contributions, accomplishments, opportunities that I have benefited from and the experiences I have been exposed to.

“My final conclusion was that I have been blessed! “I contemplated on how I was going to commemorate my birthday and knew that I wanted to accomplish one of the items on the bucket list.

“Additionally, I wanted to give back in a way that is significant and special to me that the wider community has been in support of over the years...my life in the theatre.”

Bailey’s one-woman show follows the story of Rosa Jenkins — a 16-year-old crack addict living with her parents in Harlem. Rosa’s father has chained her to a radiator in their apartment to cure her after rehabilitation has failed.

A week lapses, during which time Rosa — in a monologue to the audience — rages, goes through the effects of withdrawal and finally, voices her clear-headed thoughts about herself, her parents, and her friend who got her hooked.

The production contains strong language and content. The play was written by award-winning Atlanta-based playwright Pearl Cleage, who has won commercial acceptance and critical praise over several genres.

Cleage’s play Flyin’ West was the most-produced new play in the US in 1994 and she was also a best-selling author whose first novel, What Looks Like Crazy On An Ordinary Day, was an Oprah Book Club pick and spent nine weeks on the New York Times bestseller list

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