Spring Season 2014

For further details about any of sampad’s events visit www.sampad.org.uk or telephone 0121 446 3260

Copies of this programme are available in large print

Jan - Apr

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sampad: promoting excellence and access in south asian arts since 1990

We have a wealth of captivating music, dance, theatre and literature events to keep you entertained over the coming months.

In February, Kali Theatre joins forces with Pentabus to present The Husbands, an explosive new play about love, jealousy and a woman’s right to choose, set in modern, rural India.

Sampad is proud to have worked with Welsh National Opera and young women in Birmingham on ANON (p6), which comes to mac birmingham in March. The production fuses opera, live soundscape and theatre to take you to the centre of powerful and deeply moving accounts of female exploitation.

Come and enjoy an unforgettable evening of uplifting devotional songs later that month, as sampad presents internationally-acclaimed vocalist, Sanjeev Abhyankar.

Budding writers out there (aged 16+) will be pleased to know that we’ve extended the deadline for entries to our international writing competition Inspired by my Museum. You now have until Monday 10 March 2014 to take part, for details and entry form visit www.sampad.org.uk

This summer, sampad is a key partner for Interactivos? Birmingham, a two-week workshop event focussing on the development and production of interactive artistic works, using some of the newest technologies available. Watch out for the calls for participants and projects over the coming weeks.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay up-to-date with our latest news or join our mailing list online via www.sampad.org.uk for information about our special offers and competitions.

Best wishes,

Welcome to our Spring 2014 season programme

Piali Ray OBE, DirectorPhoto courtesy Sreenanda Shankar Mish

www.sampad.org.uk 03

Saturdays, 1pm – 2.30pm

Mid-day MantraA free monthly series presenting music from India to uplift the spirit on Saturday lunchtimes.

8 February flux Recognised for making intricate, energising and beautiful music, flux comprises of six incredibly versatile musicians who play instruments ranging from piano to bansuri, double bass to cajon and violin to synths. Join them for a distinctive rearranged acoustic, almost classical, set.

8 March Benares to Birmingham Known for his remarkable skills in playing the santoor, an ancient Kashmiri instrument with one hundred strings, musician Harjinderpal Singh will perform alongside leading tabla player Pritpal Singh.

5 April Khiyo Offering a fresh, modern take on Bengali heritage music, this formidable live band draws its repertoire from Bengali folk and genres such as Nazrul and Rabindra Sangeet. The band members have backgrounds in Indian and Western classical and folk traditions, as well as rock, blues and jazz.

For more details of the artists performing visit our website at www.sampad.org.uk

Venue

Symphony Hall Café Bar, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2EA

Tickets

FREE

In association with Town Hall Symphony Hall

Sampad has an established programme of education and outreach delivery within schools and community settings, using experienced practitioners to support your curriculum and creative learning needs.

For further information and to download our 2013/2014 brochure, please visit www.sampad.org.uk/learning

Education and Learning

flux

Harjinderpal Singh

Khiyo

Music

04 Information 0121 446 3260

Saturday 22 February, 8pm

The Husbands by Sharmila Chauhan“In my world women marry only once.” “Not here, brother, not here.”

Kali Theatre and Pentabus Theatre present an explosive new play about love, jealousy and a woman’s right to choose.

It’s Aya’s wedding day. Her third. Her current two husbands aren’t too fussed. In a society in which there are few women, that’s just what happens. But as the household prepares for the wedding feast, a stranger arrives – one who threatens to challenge everything they believe in. Against a backdrop of modern rural India, Sharmila Chauhan weaves an extraordinary tale of love and wonder. From the preparation of luxury food and the sacrifice of the lamb to the dressing of the bride and the dance to end all dances, this will be an exuberant, joyful and challenging piece of theatre.

Running time approx: 2hrs, 15min Suitability: 14+Venue

mac birmingham, Cannon Hill Park, B12 9QH

Tickets

Early bird offer: £12.50/£9 if booked at least 2 weeks in advance: then £15/£12

Ticket Office/Online Booking

0121 446 3232 / www.macarts.co.uk

“The excellent Pentabus” THE GUARDIAN ON PENTABUS

“The most enjoyable and inventive theatre I’ve seen this year” THE GUARDIAN ON KALI

Theatre

Saturday 15 March, 10.30am-12.30pm

British Asian WritersFREE NETWORKING EVENT!

Join Writing West Midlands and Sampad for a free discussion & networking morning, offering a great opportunity for emerging and established British

Asian writers to meet, share ideas and hear from industry professionals.

Our guest writer is Nikesh Shukla, (above) a writer of fiction and for television. His new novel, Meatspace, will be released in July 2014. His debut novel, Coconut Unlimited was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award 2010 and he has written for the Guardian, Esquire and BBC2. His comedy Kabadasses was broadcast on E4 and Channel 4.

Nikesh will talk about his writing life and take questions.

To book your free place, please email joanne@writingwestmidlands.org

Venue

Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Lichfield St, Wolverhampton, WV1 1DU

Supported by Sampad, Wolverhampton Art Gallery and Authors’ Licensing and Collection Society

www.writingwestmidlands.org www.alcs.co.uk

Literature

Sunday 23 March, 4pm

Asian SpringSampad’s annual showcase returns with an energetic celebration of South Asian dance. Experience the exhilarating classical forms of Kathak and Bharatanatyam, breathtaking Bollywood moves, Kuchipudi and more, from the best talent in the Midlands & North West!

Venue

Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire, B3 3HG

Tickets

£9 (£7 concs)

Ticket Office/Online Booking

0121 245 4455 www.birmingham-box.co.uk

From 1 Feb 2014 The BOX charges are as follows: Credit card bookings 3% fee per transaction, Debit card bookings 50p fee per transaction, Both fees waived for online bookings, Cash payments fee-free, 1st Class postage £1.

Dance

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06 Information 0121 446 3260

Wednesday 26 March, 4pm and 7pm

AnonThe songs of silent women.

Anon is the secret journey of millions of women, a journey continuing every day, in the shadows.

You will be immersed in this new opera as you travel through hidden worlds and find yourself at the centre of heart-breaking stories reflecting the modern exploitation of women across different cultures.

Welsh National Opera mix voices, live soundscapes and contemporary theatre in this ground-breaking production, written by Paralympic Games opening ceremony composer Errollyn Wallen.

The cast includes three sopranos, including former Cardiff Singer of the World finalist Meeta Raval.

As part of the creative process WNO worked with Errollyn, leading workshops in schools and universities in Birmingham to hear about some of the real-life challenges young women have faced in today’s world. They also undertook interviews with sex workers to uncover their stories and struggles.

The performance lasts approx 55 minutes, including an opportunity to reflect and share your thoughts on what you’ve seen and heard.

Venue

Foyle Studio, mac birmingham Cannon Hill Park, B12 9QH

Tickets

All tickets £5

Ticket Office/Online Booking

0121 446 3232 www.macarts.co.uk

Opera

Anon is a co-production between WNO and Sampad.

It is part of WNO’s activities to engage with community and young people and forms part of the Fallen Women season, grown from the new artistic vision of WNO Artistic Director, David Pountney. Anon will be performed alongside WNO’s main season tour of Manon Lescaut, which is coming to Birmingham Hippodrome 5 and 7 March 2014. For more information visit wno.org.uk

Friday 28 March, 8pm

Sanjeev AbhyankarPandit Sanjeev Abhyankar is an internationally-acclaimed vocalist, known for his enthralling performances of devotional songs.

Widely-regarded as the torch bearer of the Mewati

Gharana, a strand of Indian classical music distinctive for its melodious and spiritual nature, he has performed in more than 200 cities around the world, inspiring a new generation of young audiences with his exceptional singing.

Join us for an uplifting evening featuring bhajans, abhangs and bhav sangeet by this extraordinarily talented artist, accompanied by leading Indian musicians.

Venue

Studio Theatre, Library of Birmingham, Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2DN

Tickets

£12 (£10 concs)

Ticket Office/Online Booking

0121 245 4455 www.birmingham-box.co.uk

From 1 Feb 2014 The BOX charges are as follows: Credit card bookings 3% fee per transaction, Debit card bookings 50p fee per transaction, Both fees waived for online bookings, Cash payments fee-free, 1st Class postage £1.

Music

Sunday 13 April, 4pm

Yaa Devi with Devika RaoFirst UK performance of a new work being developed by Devika Rao in collaboration with Katie Ryan, Manuela Benini, Prem Rai, Yorkshire Dance and sampad. Concept and mentoring by Piali Ray and Chitraleka Bolar. Music by Praveen D Rao.

Evolving out of research undertaken by Devika, Yaa Devi explores the idea that classical Indian dance can be made more accessible through contemporary narratives, without diluting the purity of classical dance vocabulary. Inspired by the theme of goddesses and female empowerment, the work uses Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi and Yakshagana to explore the roles of women in traditional and contemporary societies.

Venue

Foyle Studio, mac birmingham Cannon Hill Park, B12 9QH

Tickets

£7 (£5 concs)

Ticket Office/Online Booking

0121 446 3232 / www.macarts.co.uk

Supported by Arts Council England

Dance

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FEBRUARY

8 Mid-day Symphony Hall 1pm FREE P3 Mantra Café Bar

22 The Husbands mac birmingham 8pm P4

See Page 4 for ticket details

MARCH

8 Mid-day Mantra Symphony Hall 1pm Free P3 Café Bar

15 British Wolverhampton 10.30am– Free P5 Asian Writers Art Gallery 12.30pm networking event

23 Asian Spring Adrian Boult Hall 4pm £9 (£7) P5

26 ANON mac birmingham 4pm £5 P6 (Welsh National Opera) & 7pm

28 Sanjeev Library of 8pm £12 (£10) P7 Abhyankar Birmingham

APRIL

5 Mid-day Mantra Symphony Hall 1pm FREE P3 Café Bar

13 Yaa Devi mac birmingham 4pm £7 (£5) P7

All information in this brochure is correct at the time of printing. However, changes may occasionally be necessary and any up-to-date or additional information can be found on the sampad website. sampad apologise in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.

sampad is proud to be supported by the following organisations

You can join sampad’s free mailing list by visiting www.sampad.org.uk

sampad is a registered charity no. 1088995

By post

c/o mac birmingham, Cannon Hill Park, Edgbaston B12 9QH

By telephone 0121 446 3260

By email info@sampad.org.uk

Visit our website www.sampad.org.uk

Follow us online

sampad is a dynamic development agency for South Asian arts based in Birmingham. Education, outreach and lifelong learning is at the heart of all our work. We provide everything from single workshops to long term projects using dance, music, theatre, crafts or literature, for all ages and abilities, working in schools, nurseries, youth centres, community organisations, health settings and more. To find out more, please get in touch.

Diary of Events Get in touch