A Season of Bangla Drama

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For all you theatre lovers out there

‘A Season of Bangla Drama’ is an annual Bengali drama festival organised by the Kobi Nazrul Centre, Arts & Events. The ‘Season of Bangla Drama’ is in the fifth year, running every weekend from the 7 – 29 July 2007, 6.30pm at the Brady Arts and Community Centre, 192-196 Hanbury Street London E1 5HU.

The aim of the season is to bring new work and old favourites by British Bengalis chronicling the diasporic Bengali/Sylheti experiences to audiences in a locally accessible venue at an affordable price. Working together on a single season has enabled a celebration of new writing and bringing the work of each company to a broader focus.

The plays range from the British Bengali contemporary life to rural life back home with performances by Foundation for Indian Performing Arts (FIPA) showcasing two dance dramas Bidrohi (The Rebel written by Kazi Nazrul Islam) and Shapmochan (Curse Redemption by Rabindranath Tagore). Local group Satyen Sen School of Performing Arts bring a light satirical touch to the drama season presenting ‘Ekti Kaloo Suitcase’ (A Black Suitcase written by Prof. momtazuddin Ahmed). The Kobi Nazrul Centre’s very own drama group will be performing ‘Edin Aybo Kundin’ (When This Day Will Come written & directed by A M Neswar) a play based on socio-cultural and political experiences of Bengali people living in London East End; told through the eyes of a local General Practitioner the play examines the aspiration and the process of electing the first Bengali Member of Parliament to sit in the House of Commons and a young husband’s hopes of wanting a baby at whatever cost. With 8 performances by seven different companies we are sure there is something for everyone to enjoy.

One of the highlights for A Season of Bangla Drama is Homapakhi a play written by Dr Amit Ranjan Biswas and directed & performed by legendary actor Soumitra Chatterjee from Satyjit Ray’s Apu’s Trilogy. Soumitra Chatterjee is a versatile actor working almost fifty years in performance arts; he has acted in 15 out of 34 films made by Satyajit Ray.

A Season of Bangla Drama programme is as follows:

7July Opening Ceremony
‘Bishorjan’ (sacrifice) performed by The Tagoreans

8 July ‘Milon’ (Get Together) Play by Shondhanee Nattyo Chakro UK

14 July Bidrohi (The Rebel) Dance/Drama performed by FIPA

15 July ‘Edin Aybo Kundin’ (When This Day Will Come) A Sylheti play performed by the Kobi Nazrul Centre Drama Group

21 July ‘Homapakhi’ performed by Cenetel Ticket price: £10.00

22 July ‘Ekti Kaloo Suitcase’ (A Black Suitcase) Play by Satyen Sen School of Performing Arts

28 July ‘Shapmochan’ (Curse Redemption) Dance/Drama performed by Foundation for Indian Arts (FIPA)

29 July ‘Chalachitta Chanchari’ Performed by the Friends of the Tagore Centre

Unless otherwise stated tickets are reasonably priced at £8/5.00 concessions can be booked at the Box Office at the Brady Arts & Community Centre on 020 7364 7900

If you require further information please do not hesitate to contact Kazi Ruksana on 020 7364 7906 or email kazi.begum@towerhamlets.gov.uk or A.M Neswar on 020 7375 1320 or email kobinazrulcentre.lbth@dial.pipex.com
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