The Troth | Vidya Patel and Gary Clarke speak to Eastern Eye

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The Troth

Vidya Patel, from the cast of The Troth – Usne Kaha Tha, and Gary Clarke, director and choreographer, speak to Eastern Eye about the process behind Akademi’s new production.

“It’s been so insightful working on my character Leila, but also observing Gary Clarke’s choreographic process and how he churns out the real emotion which play a massive part in the piece”  

Vidya Patel

“For me, to get the Indian approval means so much but also, coming to the UK, which has a huge Indian culture and community, and being able to show the story that people might not know is so important too”

Gary Clarke

Read: New Dance Show Revolves Around Untold Tale od Indian Soldiers’ Sacrifices in Eastern Eye. 

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).

2018 UK and International tour dates

DateVenue
6 JanJaipur Literature Festival, Jaipur
29 JanKamani Auditorium, New Delhi
2 FebBharat Bhavan, Bhopal
4 FebTarang Auditorium, Jabalpur
8 FebHaryana Kala Parishad Multi Art Cultural Centre
20 & 21 FebCurve Theatre, Leicester
5 Mar ArtsEkta, Belfast
10 Mar Tacchi Morris Theatre, Taunton
13 Mar Edge Hill Arts Centre, Ormskirk
16 MarDuke’s Theatre, Lancaster
5 MaySouthbank Centre, London

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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