Masala Festival promises a cultural heatwave
Celebrate the best of South Asian arts
The Masala Festival, that annual treasure trove of memorable experiences, is shortly to return with another busy programme assembled by Gateshead-based GemArts, champions of South Asian culture.
It runs from July 14 to 20 and will be launched in style at the Theatre Royal where the Aakash Odedra Company, in association with Manchester Camerata, will present Songs of the Bulbul.
The Leicester-based company, founded by artistic director Odedra and our own Anand Bhatt, now running Dance City in Newcastle, presents this new work inspired by the ancient Sufi myth of a captive bulbul (nightingale).
With choreography by Rani Khanam and music by Rushil Ranjan, it holds the promise of an unforgettable night.
Vikas Kumar, the inspiring and dedicated director of Gem Arts, suggests the bar for this year’s festival has been set high to reflect “the richness of South Asian creativity and cultural goodness”.
“From world-renowned artists to emerging local talent, this year’s programme promises unforgettable performances and inspiring experiences,” he says.
“Join us as we celebrate Desi voices (those of the Indian sub-continent and its diaspora), spark new conversations and create moments of connection, joy and celebration.”
GemArts has commissioned a new exhibition at Vane, the Gateshead gallery, by North East artist Sofia Barton
Sofia’s Death Magic, we are told, “offers a poignant, visually arresting journey through the intersection of neurodivergent experience and Punjabi perspectives on death, ancestry, and the enduring power of memory”.
Award-winning writer Gurnaik Johal will read from his much admired debut novel Saraswati (recalling a mythical river in northern India) at Northern Stage on July 15 before discussing his work with Prof Preti Taneja, director of Newcastle Centre for the Literary Arts.
A festival programme of South Asian cinema will include screenings at Tyneside Cinema, Culture Lab (at Newcastle University) and Baltic.
And, as always, there will be an epic line-up of live music.
Head for Cluny 2 on July 16 to experience Baadal Dvaar se Nazar (A Glimpse Through the Cloud Door), an experimental collaboration by William Rees Hofmann and Benedict Taylor featuring sarod and viola.
At The Glasshouse on July 18 you can see and hear Blossoming, a collaboration between santoor virtuoso Eeshar Singh and Royal Northern Sinfonia drawing on ancient mythology and Indic folklore.
And if you’re in Newcastle city centre on July 19 you will be unable to miss the joyous Bollywood Brass Band
On that same day spoken word night Freespill will take place at DiverCity Hub, 120-126 Buckingham Street, hosted by Newcastle-based Tahmina Ali and featuring powerful South Asian stories.
Throughout the week, the festival and Dabbawal will deliver a celebration of South Asian cuisine and there will be workshops in the likes of Bollywood dance, yoga, creative writing and shadow puppet making.
Supported by headline sponsor Tyne and Wear Metro and others, the festival will come to a colourful climax on July 20 with the Masala Festival Mini Mela at Bensham Grove Community Centre, Gateshead.
Crafts, dance, mouth-watering food, live performances and “good vibes” are promised.
Check out the programme and ticket details on the GemArts website.