Indian Arts Festival, Somerset
The Merlin Theatre in Frome, Somerset is holding it’s first ever Indian Arts
Festival this October.
The four day festival of films, books, music, food, dance and workshops has been
co-curated with Merlin Affiliated Artists: Mayuri Boonham and Subathra Subramaniam
of Angika Dance who will also be running workshops in local schools in the time
running up to the festival.
The festival takes place from Thursday 26th October to Sunday the 29th of October
and the programme of events is as follows:
Thursday 26 October 7.45pm
Pather Panchali – Song of the Little Road (U)
1955, India, dir Satyajit Ray, b&w, 115 mins
A landmark of World Cinema. A family saga set in a remote village in Bengal.
Friday 27 October 7.45pm
Desi Dance Club
Come on down to the festival party for bhangra, global dance tunes and desi beats
from the decks with live Dhol Drumming.
With live VJ ing, henna artist and food.
The evening will feature a short dance created during the Bharata Natyam dance
workshop.
Tickets: £5 (£4)
Recommended: 12 plus
Saturday 28 October 11am
Same, Same But Different Theatre presents An Epic Indian Adventure
Interactive storytelling with traditional Rajasthani puppets.
Tickets: £4
Running Time: 50 mins
Recommended: 4 -7 years
Saturday 28 October 7.00pm*
Dhoad Gypsies from Rajasthan
An authentic and magical experience. Close your eyes, and let the hypnotic rhythm
of this exceptional group of musicians evoke the spirit of these mystical lands.
Dhoad brings together several talented musicians, all Rajasthani, but from
different communities, religions (muslim and hindu), and different artistic
castes; they comprise the sapera-kalbelya (‘fakirs’, dancers, and snake
charmers), the langas (poets), the manganyar (troubadours) and musicians.
Together, these artists create an atmosphere of magical enchantment, an
extravaganza of sound expressed through a whirlwind of glittering, shimmering
colours and dance:
Tickets: £14 (£12.50) Friends: £13 (£11.50)
Running Time: 2 hours including interval
Recommended: 8 plus suitable for a family audience note family friendly start time*
Post show supper: join the musicians and crew in the foyer for a post show buffet
of traditional Indian food £6 per head – limited space so book early.
Sunday 29 October
Film, Chai and Tiffin
2pm Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje (U)
1955, dir V Shantaram, India, 143 mins
The first colour Bollywood movie, a great
classic with staggeringly spectacular dance.
Presented with the support of the South Asian Cinema Foundation.
With English subtitles
4pm Tiffin: Chai (tea) and exquisite Indian sweets
5pm Monsoon Wedding (15)
2001, dir Mira Nair, 114 mins
The rain is coming and so is the family.
Tickets:
Both films plus tiffin £12
One Film plus tiffin £8
Films £5 each
must book tiffin by Friday 27 Oct
Workshops at the Merlin Theatre
Bharata Natyam Dance Workshop with Angika
Participants will perform a brief ‘curtain raiser’ at the Desi Dance Club.
Sunday 22 October 2-5pm
Friday 27 October 6pm -7pm plus brief performance at 7.45pm
£25 (£15) – includes free ticket to Desi Dance Club
Workshops at the Black Swan Arts
Textile Printing with Rita Gupta
- for Children
Tuesday 24 October
10am – 12.30pm & 2pm – 4.30pm
£7 per child Age 7 and over
-for Adults
Saturday 21 October
10am – 4pm
£35 (£28)
Talk: Inspirations from India by Sue Conrad
Thursday 26 October 6.30pm
£5
Sue Conrad talks about her travels in India and how it has influenced her recent
work. Sue will be exhibiting at Black Swan Arts in March 2007.
Black Swan Arts: 2 Bridge Street, Frome, 01373 473980
There really is something for everyone so don’t miss you chance to get involved.
For more details or to book for any of the events or workshops call the Merlin
Theatre box office on 01373 465949. http://www.merlintheatre.co.uk