The Troth | UK tour dates announced in Eastern Eye

With the The Troth / Usne Kaha Tha Akademi marks the centenaries of World War I, Indian cinema and the first Hindi short story. A story of love, loss and sacrifice in World War I, this poignant narrative reveals the contribution, sacrifice and human cost of Indian soldiers to the allied war effort.

The Troth / Usne KahaTha will be touring to

World Premiere 26 Jan | Jaipur Literature Festival, Jaipur

29 Jan | Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi
2 Feb | Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal
4 Feb | Tarang Auditorium, Jabalpu

20 & 21 Feb | Curve Theatre, Leicester
5 Mar | ArtsEkta, Belfast
10 Mar | Tacchi Morris Theatre, Taunton
13 Mar | Edge Hill Arts Centre, Ormskirk
16 Mar | The Duke’s, Lancaster

Directed and choreographed by award-winning choreographer Gary Clarke, acclaimed for his compelling works of narrative dance theatre, The Troth is a collaboration with dramaturg Lou Cope, using archive wartime footage and new subtitled films by Josh Hawkins to unfold the narrative. They set the scene for viscerally powerful dance from six dancers of diverse backgrounds and training within an evocative soundscape created by BASCA award-winner Shri Sriram who laces his original composition with sounds from World War I and Indian folk music.

“Usne Kaha Tha is a classic of Hindi literature, loved by millions. Our production will be a powerful ‘living silent film’, and is Akademi’s first theatre show after nearly 20 years of primarily outdoor performances. This Indo-UK artistic collaboration has galvanised partners from both countries – including Arts Council England, British Council, the Government of India’s Ministries of Culture and External Affairs, and the British Army – to reveal the vital contribution made by Indian soldiers to World War I”.

Mira Kaushik OBE, Director of Akademi

“The British Army is thrilled to be supporting the production of The Troth. It tells a vital piece of World War I history and speaks volumes about shared heritage. Army musicians are involved in the sound score, contributing military themes and authenticity to the fantastic composition by Shri, and soldiers are working with the dancers to assist them in the portrayal of drill, PT and movement under fire.”

Lt. Col Jo Young, the British Army’s Officer for the Arts

The Troth / Usne Kaha Tha will have its world premiere in India, followed by a tour in January / February 2018. Venues and dates to be announced soon. Follow The Troth – Usne Kaha Tha on Facebook to get sneak peaks into rehearsal process and find out more about the story and it’s history.

Win tickets to The Troth’s UK tour in Eastern Eye

Our print media partner on The Troth / Usne Kaha Tha, Eastern Eye, is giving it’s readers a chance to win two tickets to The Troth at a venue of their choice during the UK spring tour.

Read:  Eastern Eye features The Troth (link no longer active)

With The Troth / Usne Kaha Tha Akademi marks the centenaries of World War I, Indian cinema and the first Hindi short story. A story of love, loss and sacrifice in World War I, this poignant narrative reveals the contribution, sacrifice and human cost of Indian soldiers to the allied war effort.

The Troth – Usne Kaha Tha

Akademi’s The Troth – Usne Kaha Tha is a gripping wartime story of love and loss, told through powerful dance theatre. Inspired by a 1915 short story Usne Kaha Tha by Chandradhar Sharma Guleri, it tells the story of Sardar Lehna Singh’s sacrifice of keeping his secret promise to an unrequited love while mid-conflict in the horror of the trenches of Belgium. Directed by Gary Clarke, the show features a specially-commissioned music score by Shri Sriram, and a cast including Vidya Patel (BBC Young Dancer 2015 finalist).

The Troth is funded by Arts Council England; Ministry of Culture, Government of India; Armed Forces Covenant Fund; Cockayne Grants for the Arts through the London Community Foundation; PRS for Music Foundation; ICCR; and Air India. Partners include UK-India Year of Culture; British Council; The Space; Imperial War Museum; National Army Museum; The Nehru Centre, London; Watermans Arts Centre; and Teamwork Arts.

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