» Stage: Tara Arts’ People’s Romeo
Bangla Bard: Tara Arts fuse the work of Shakespeare with Bengali Poetry in their new production People’s Romeo, writes Andrew Kay
Bangladeshi theatre meets classic Western culture in the latest production from Tara Arts, coming to The Hawth Studio in September. People’s Romeo breathes new life into the greatest love story ever told: Shakespeare’s Romeo And Juliet.
Combining Shakespeare’s verse with Bengali poetry, this new production is a powerful cross-cultural performance made for modern audiences. Five performers use Pala Gaan – a highly engaging theatre style combining music, dance, and storytelling – to reinvent this classic piece of English theatre. Pala Gaan was originally performed in the market squares of Bangladesh in the 16th century – the same time as Shakespeare was writing and staging his dramas before crowds at the Globe Theatre in London.
“People’s Romeo is not just a tragedy of star-crossed lovers,” says director Mukul Ahmed. “It is a celebration of theatre and above all, I hope, hugely entertaining.”
Tara Arts is an expert in pioneering the re-invention of European classics from an Asian perspective. “Every community has its Romeo and Juliet,” Mukul continues. “It is a global story with a universal theme.”
People’s Romeo will tell Shakespeare’s story from a fresh perspective and seeks to engage new audiences with the Bard’s work.
People’s Romeo, The Hawth Studio, Crawley, Wednesday 29 September, 8pm, £13.50/£11.50/£8.50, 01293 553636, www.hawth.co.uk
