A site immersive work taking over the various spaces at the Hat Factory to tell a story unique and 'local' to Luton exploring mental health through a series of performances and installations by various artists as well as company performance. Curated and choreographed by Amina Khayyam.
Artists involved: Debasish Mukherjee, Jane Chan, Iain McHugh, Bisakha Sarker, Harmage S. Kalirai, Rup Khatkar, Sooraj Subramanyam Parbati Choudhury, Seema Anand, Shakila Maan, Shemiza Rashid, Sid Akhtar, John-Marc Gowans, Amina Khayyam.
Also involved: Brunel University Physical Theatre performers - Patricia Neto Borba, Dora Koleseri, Blanca Larralde, Franki Mangru, Sophia McLean, Holly Noble, Aaron O George, Amelia Thorpe, Lysa Asiedu- Yebga
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“Those of us who made the journey to Luton were able to witness a rare moment in Indian dance in the UK”- PULSE review of Hum in My Heart /click here
Performed - 12/13 Feb 2020 / Hat Factory, Luton
Kathak & Choreography: Amina Khayyam
Kathak music arrangement: Debasish Mukherjee & Amina Khayyam
The Hum Electronic Score: John-Marc Gowans
Dramaturge & Creative Producer: Hardial S. Rai
Lighting Design: Jenni Jackson & Paul Micah
Production: Paul Micah & Neran Persaud
Costume Design: Amina Khayyam & Shaheda Choudhury
Set Build: Hannah Sharp
Photography: Simon Richardson
Outreach:Fateha Begum
Made at Brunel Arts with support from the Arts Council of England, & zeroculture/ Artta. Developed from workshops with women’s groups in London (Tower Hamlets), Birmingham, Luton and Woking, Workshop programme supported by Feminist Review Trust, Postcode Lottery & Awards For All.
Programme
Wed 12th 11.30am (to 2.30pm)
KHOL DO – 11.30 – installation loop
A simple desire to sit and sway on a swing… Just for once. Explored by Artist Shakila Maan, inspired from the writings of Saadat Hasan Manto.
TELL ME MY STORY… 11.30am
An invitation awaits you to the parlour of internationally acclaimed and doctorate storyteller Seema Anand.
MOTHER’S MONOLOGUES 12.05pm
Local verbatim accounts presented as excerpts from their forthcoming show: - incidents and moments charged by dark clouds of austerity and more... Created with local women by Shemiza Rashid.
THE SECRET DANCER 1.00pm
Will it take a biscuit or two to lure you to her living room to reveal a secret… Performer: Bisakha Sarker.
THE HUM… 2.00pm
Listening out inside and deafening.. Listening and deafening out inside. Kathak’s storytelling and cello’s emotive narration come together to begin telling the ‘local’ Luton story... Performers: Jane Chan and Iain McHugh
Thurs 13th 5.30pm (to 9.30pm)
PICTURE ME HERE – Arrival Experience
Start your experience with photo-ing yourself where you want to be…
KHOL DO – 5.45 – installation loop
A simple desire to sit and sway on a swing… Just for once. Explored by Artist Shakila Maan inspired by writings of Saadat Hasan Manto.
RED AND BLACK – 6.15 / 6.45 / 7.15
A dancer takes over the stage dressed in half a wedding dress attempting to wrangle herself out of it… Performer: Parbati Chaudhury.
THE SECRET DANCER – 6.25 / 6.50 / 7.20
Will it take a biscuit or two to lure you to her living room to reveal her secret…
Performer: Bisakha Sarker.
MAN /AADMI – 6.30 / 7.00 / 7.30
With a noose hanging above him, the character Man tells us the temptation of using it… Performer: Sooraj Subramaniam.
MOTHER’S MONOLOGUES 6.40/ 7.10 / 7.25
Local verbatim accounts presented as excerpts from their forthcoming show: - incidents and moments charged by dark clouds of austerity and more... Created with local women by Shemiza Rashid.
THE HUM IN MY HEART – 7.45
Amina Khayyam takes the stage with her company of award winning performers and world-class musicians including Debasish Mukherjee on Tabla to continue telling the ‘local story’.
PAGALKHANA – 9.00pm
Mental health described without naming it attempts a comedic routine.