Season of Bangla Drama returns in 2023, from 1-26 November. It’s the 20th anniversary of the festival, which this year explores the theme ’20 Acts of Love’.
Photo credit Rehan Jamil
A Season of Bangla Drama champions new writing and younger writers. The festival is programmed by Tower Hamlets Arts Officer Ruksana Begum and supported by the Centre for Creative Collaboration, providing a platform for debut performances and showcasing 15 plays which are all relevant to an East London audience.
Tower Hamlets will once again host this acclaimed Bangladeshi theatre festival. This year marks the 20th year since the festival began. Alongside the festival, there will also be a fringe programme of events including exhibitions, talks and walks.
One key sub-theme surrounds the notion of love conquering all despite adversity. This is through marital infidelity in Extramarital by Ayna Arts. It covers prejudice in Shimana Periye (Beyond the Boundary) by Bangladesh Udichi Shilpi Goshti UK Sangshad.
Mitali Arts Group tackle loneliness and neglect of the elderly in Fhire Pawa Jouban (Youthfulness Returns) and Trioarts tell a story that tests the limits of love in Bandhan (Everlasting Love).
Monchoshoilee unpick the many complex facets of love in Biborno Krishnochura. This play is all about passion, with cultural, and generational baggage thrown in.
Real life comes to the fore in 3 unique productions.
Farha Bi's Cycling Towards Freedom is an autobiographical tale. It tells the true story of her physical, emotional and educational journey on two wheels.
In The Greeks Have 6 Words for Love Alana Jelinek presents the heartwarming tale of a 25 year friendship between Muslims and Jews who live and work in Tower Hamlets. Purbanat CIC are also inspired by real life, and in particular the Egyptian revolution of 2011. They present Who Is there?, a satire on and critique of performer’s rights based on a lived experience.
Bishwo Shahitto Kendro (BSK) UK analyse the power of poetry as a vehicle for the theme of love in Poems of Dropping Anchor. Through the story of two great poets Abul Hasan and Suraiya Khanum, this play explores the many dimensions of love. How does love shape our lives in unexpected ways and what is its transformative capacity. Marble Sinew Ltd take us from poetry to comedy with Marriage is Murder, ‘One wedding and a funeral’?
Further productions open up the artform through music, dance and movement. Daedalus Theatre Company use storytellers and musicians to explore love across boundaries in Ten Years East. Dhanush Veena Giridhar celebrate the love of music as a force for connection in Harmonium Melodies.
Adity Roy uses dance to teach kids universal lessons. The horrors of war are set against love and acceptance as the key to betterment in Abinashi Anurag (Eternal Love). The Two Headed Bird (Dou Martha Pakhi) by Tamarind Theatre Co provide joy and colour with music, movement and puppetry. They narrate a couple's struggle to find love against danger and conflict in a fishing town.
You can explore all events and book tickets here:
https://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgnl/leisure_and_culture/Season-of-Bangla-drama/Whats-on.aspx