SBD11 Brochure

Tower Hamlets Council presents A Season of Bangla Drama 5 – 27 November 2011 2 Welcome to A Season of Bangla Drama. This prestigious fes - tival showcases a host of new writing and the work of a number of drama groups in the borough which Tower Hamlets Council is proud to be championing. A Season of Bangla Drama runs from the 5 th to the 27 th November at the Brady Arts Centre. It is now in it’s ninth year and fittingly, there are nine performances which highlight an array of diverse, established and emerging talent incorporating scriptwriting, acting and directing. This celebration of Bengali culture and theatre in East London crosses the platforms of poetry, history and politics and explores a range of themes from danger to destiny and realism to whimsy including mixed marriage , power and influence, wishing on a star, magic and mayhem. Additionally, on the occasion of the 150 th anniversary of his birth, the writing of the influential poet Rabindranath Tagore has been interpreted through puppetry and dance and movement as well as drama. There’s something for everyone to enjoy and I would encourage audiences to go to as many perform - ances as possible to immerse themselves in a variety of rich, vibrant and thoughtful experiences of Bengali theatre. Lutfur Rahman Mayor of Tower Hamlets 3 Saturday 5 November 2011 Dakshinee-Kolkata / Cast and Production Team Direction and Concept: Dr Ananda Gupta Dakshinayan UK presents Principal Vocalist: Bithi Purkayastha Panchadeepmala - Vocals: Ananda Gupta, Amrita Ghosh, Shahadat Hussain, Snigdha Chowdhury Five Lamps to Light Dancers: Aindrila Ghosh, Indrani Datta, Lyrics and original text by Rabindranath Tagore Ishita Bhattacharya, Senjuti Das, Rajib Saha, Alkananda Mahapatra, Annwesha Paul, The Five Lamps (Panchadeepmala) examines the Adity Rumanna, Kakoli Kumar, Suchismita Ganguli lives of five heroines in the rare dance-theatres of Musicians: Sajib Chowdhury, Ananda Gupta, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. They all travel with Debipriya Das a lamp in hand and each have a story to tell Light and Sound: Suna Miah Shyama - The Seductress who has lost everything she has loved and everyone she has deceived. About the organisation Kamalika - The Beautiful Princess of Madra reborn Dakshinayan is a social cultural volunteer led after a curse from heaven and waiting to be organisation that came into being in 2003. The reunited with her ugly disfigured lover. Kalmrigaya organisation runs successfully in London as an - The Wood Nymphs who warn the lonely hermit academic unit following the Tagore curriculum of child of the impending perils in the forest. the most renowned Tagore Institution in Kolkata Karuna -The Queen of Kashi who burns down called Dakshinee. It has been a very progressive every hut around the river to give her warmth run where the volunteers have tirelessly worked to after a cold dip in the river. Shrimati - The Buddha create new works and specially so of storytelling Follower who sacrifices her life at the stupa of through newer means, thus shaping the creative and Buddha defying all orders of the Ruler! cultural landscape of Tagore awareness in the UK. Friday 11 November 2011 SRJB52 presents Rokter Dakk – Called for Blood 4 Written by Proshenjit Dutta Since 1950, the East Pakistani people were divided into two groups regarding the state language of Pakistan; most students, progressive political parties and activists were of one voice on the state language of East Pakistan – that it should Bangla. This unity created fear, paranoia and uncertainty with the Pakistani Government. An illiterate mother sends her son to be educated, she refuses to talk or learn Urdu; her values and ideology were passed on to her son who is studying at Dhaka University. With the Independence from the British still fresh in the memories of people, students vocalised and protested to keep their mother language and made a historic movement to keep Bangla language anyhow. Political leaders took the stance not to break Section 144 at 20 February 1952… but students refused and revolted against the decision by sacrificing their lives - 21 February symbolises Martyr’s Day and the language movement was born. The play looks into the struggle of the students and their desire for recognition and identity through language. Cast and Production Team Director: Ms Farzana Kabir (Simi) Music: Sadia Afroz Chawdhury Light and Stage: Saiyem Khan Producer: Proshenjit Dutta Actors: Plaban, Sumon, Shuvo, Mohan, Sharon, Nurul, Proshenjit, Jibu, Kajol, Mozzamel, Arif, Eliash, Shume, Maushume, Shantu, Suchana About the organisation SRJB52 is as a cultural group, started with our great national hero’s names – S (Salam, Safique), R (Rafique), J (Jabber), B (Barkat) and intended to tell people our history within cultural activities. Languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our heritage. The organisation aims to research the history of language movement (Mother Tongue), and to promote linguistic, cultural diversity and multilingualism. We are running our project in three divisions of drama, dance and literature. Tower Hamlets Council presents A Season of Bangla Drama 5 – 27 November 2011 5 Saturday 12 November 2011 Onusheelon presents Koto Rang – The Colours of Life Written and Directed by Dr Mukid Choudhury Presented in the classical Indian style, Koto-Rang is a compact tale of a Bengali Hindu middle-class marriage, and the blurred lines between vigilantism and empow - Finally, an accident of women’s erment. What begins simply goes identity examines female characters onto spiral out of control in this from Rabindranath Tagore’s novels village tale of betrayal, pride, and such as Shesher Kobita, Chukher Bali, vengeance? The risks involved pit Nouka Dubi, Char Odhaya etc to father against daughter, friend reflect the accessibility of dynamics against friend, and young love of economics, race, and self against the forces of society. righteousness. Together, the plays present an emotional journey Koto-Rang explores the many through the trials and tribulations of Stage Management: images that exist of Hindu the aspects of family relationships Rajon Chowdhury Bengalis in Bangladesh. In the and of forgiveness. Printing & Publicity: media stereotypical images are Shahab Uddin Ahmed perpetuated in representations Cast and Production Team Front of House staff: of forced marriages. And in social Abul Asad Afzal, Alpana Roy Borman, Syeda Naznin Sultana situations forced marriages are Atikur Rahman, Jakaria Ahmed, thought acceptable if made with the Md Al-Amin Talukder, Md Humayun About the organisation addition of "family cannot accept Kabir Mahin, Md Shoriful Islam, Onusheelon is a newly formed love marriage and you are con - Mina Chakrabarti, Mitun Chandra repertory theatre company. demned for ever conceiving the Das, Monir-Uz-Zaman, Motiur Taj, The Company is comprised of a idea” Koto-Rang presents five inter - Muhith Hakim, Rajan Saha, Rajib small number of young, energetic related acts that portray the face Das (Raju), Rajon Chowdhury, and committed theatre activists of love, forgiveness, and oppres - Sheikh Nurul Islam, Sheikh Oli who wish to explore their rich sion of a Bengali Hindu family with Uddin, Shuman Khan, S.M.Safiqul cultural and political heritage and elements of Shakespeare’s star Islam, Smrity Azad and Ziaur celebrate the stories of their crossed lovers tale at the outset. Rahman Saklen. people with a wider audience. Tower Hamlets Council presents A Season of Bangla Drama 5 – 27 November 2011 Sunday 13 November 2011 Monchoshoilee drama wing of Bishwo Shahitto Kendro presents The Wrath of God 6 Adaptation of poems by Rabindranath Tagore An affluent man is preparing for a pilgrimage across the sea. A large number of people are included in the voyage. As the voyagers set out for the journey, a young widow, Mokkhoda, begs Moitra to take her along. Moitra agrees, but points out that she has a child. Mokkhoda assures Moitra that her son, Rakhal, is very fond of his aunt Annada and can live with her. But young Rakhal is fascinated by the idea of a sea voyage, and refuses to get off the boat when it sets off. Failing to control the persistent boy, Mokkhoda angrily utters, "well then, let me sacrifice you to the sea." Upon return from the pilgrimage, the boat is struck by a violent storm. The superstitious and self-centred passengers on the boat remind Mokkhoda that she had promised the sea god her son, and the god has raised the storm to make his claim. The drama helps unmask the honourable of society and depicts a primeval side of human nature when protecting own interest becomes a priority. ‘The Wrath of God’ will be presented with theatrical dance illustrations and dramatic atmospheric About the organisation live music. Monchoshoilee is the drama wing of Bishwo Cast and Production Team Shahitto Kendro; a creative Director: Ziaur Rahman Saklan art, literature and educa - Assistant director: Raju Das tion based organisation Producer: Khadija Rahman that overseas a range of Choreography and performance by Alpona programmes throughout Live music: Dia the year. All events are Background music and light: Chomok designed to promote Actors: Saklan, Arfu, Arif, Ruhul, Aysha, Amu, harmonious relationships Humayun Mahin, Ifti, Raju, Sadi, Shourov, among all communities Bipul, Shuporna, Tipu and Ribhu through its activities regardless of social or ethnic origin. Tower Hamlets Council presents A Season of Bangla Drama 5 – 27 November 2011 Thursday 17 November 2011 Brick Lane Circles Seminar - Mukul Ahmed Mainstreaming Bengali drama Mukul started his theatre career with The Half and playwrights: challenges and Moon Theatre and is an active community theatre activist. He has been pursuing a career as a 7 opportunities explored by Valerie director and producer since attending the Live Doulton and Mukul Ahmed and Direct programme run by Contact Theatre, Manchester in 2004. In 2007 he completed the Birkbeck MFA Theatre Directing programme and The seminar will include a short read performance received the Laurence Harbottle scholarship.

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