After two years and more than 50 butter chickens later, the story of an Edmonton food reviewer to find the best butter chicken in the city will soon be seen on the theatrical stage.

It is a surreal moment for Ramneek Singh to adapt his life story from his butter chicken reviews into a play. Back in November, CityNews brought a story of Ramneek Singh, who was searching for the best butter chicken in the city. And with his review being adapted into a play, Singh says he wants to represent the Punjabi culture in a theatrical form.

“I consider it a social responsibility to do this because I don’t think there are many Punjabi plays in the local scene, so hopefully this fills the void and encourages others to do the same thing,” said Singh.

Ramneek Singh standing beside the grill in November 2025. (Leo Cruzat, CityNews)

The story is not just about his review of the dish, but exploring his coming of age as a Mill Wood’s resident and as a Punjabi. It will be a one-man show with Ramneek as the actor and the playwright himself.

“You get to a point where you’re like 40, and you’re facing this grinding ache of assimilation, and you want to be accepted by Western society, and once you do and once you’re successful in life, you get to this midlife crisis point where you go back to your roots,” said Singh.

A theatre researcher and advisor helped with the writing of the play. Collin Doyle followed Singh’s review for two years and was inspired to create a story out of it. 

“We’ve created an arc of the story. So at the beginning of the story, someone asked Ramneek where he’s from originally, and by the end of the play, Ramneek has answered to that,” said Doyle.

“With Ramneek’s food reviews as they went. They were so well written that I would get caught up in them, and they went from being about butter chicken to being about him exploring his life in Mill Woods, I think. And I just found it engaging, and so I was like, I think this could be a play.”

Collin Doyle (middle) with Ramneek Singh (right) in a theater. (Leo Cruzat, CityNews)

“We’re testing out the material, see how the audience responds, and you’re going to see it. I wouldn’t say, and it’s rawest form, but as it’s developing, it’s a work in progress,” said Singh.

The play will be featured at the Springboard Festival at the Workshop West Playwright Theatre on Friday, hoping to be featured at this year’s Fringe Festival.