Chotto Desh by Akram Khan • La Seizième

Britain meets Bangladesh as Akram recalls a childhood imprinted by two cultures. Back then, his dream of becoming a dancer crashed into the weight of family tradition… and the figure of a father who, while wanting only the best for his son, remained uncompromising in his traditional values. Now, the adult Akram takes up a quest for identity that is both intimate and epic, fuelled by the legends of his ancestors.

Somewhere between travel diary and self-portrait, Chotto Desh – Bengali for “little homeland” – is a choreographic tale on the theme of identity and cultural heritage. Text, dance, and spectacularly playful audiovisuals combine to create a moment of exceptional theatrical poetry that will delight both young and old.

Press

“An absolute triumph!” — The Scotsman

“As a showcase for storytelling through dance this show is hard to beat, with a joyous and energetic performance that captivates all who see it.” — Norwich Eye

“Its heart-warming story of our connections to the past, to family and, most important, the need to find your own path, will captivate an audience of any age.” — The Stage

“The whole is an artistic jewel that questions one’s roots and encourages the audience to reflect on their own stories and influences.” — The Reviews Hub London

Credits

Coproduction MOKO Dance, Akram Khan Company, Sadler's Wells (Londres, UK), DanceEast (Ipswich, UK), Théâtre de la Ville (Paris, France), Biennale de la danse de Lyon 2016 (France), Mercat de les Flors (Barcelone) et Stratford Circus Arts Centre, avec le soutien de Arts Council England
DESH Artistic Direction and Original Choreography Akram Khan
Chotto Desh Direction and Adaptation Sue Buckmaster (Theatre-Rites)
Music composition Jocelyn Pook
Lighting Design Guy Hoare
Stories imagined by Karthika Naïr et Akram Khan
Written by Karthika Naïr, Sue Buckmaster et Akram Khan
The grandmother's fable in Chotto Desh is taken from the book The Honey Hunter
Assistant Choreographer Jose Agudo
Voice in French Daniel Berrebi, Asil Raïs, Tulika Srivastava, Skyla Adjei
Counselor for the accent Leesa Gazi
Dancers Dennis Alamanos ou Nicolas Ricchini
Producer Claire Cunningham pour AKCT
Original Visual Design Tim Yip
Original Visual Animation created by Yeast Culture
Original Costume Supervisor Kimie Nakano
Sound designer Alex Stein
Music Engineer Steve Parr
Costume Reconstruction Advisor Martina Trottmann
Technical Producer Sander Loonen (Arp Theatre)
Sound and video engineer Matt Armstrong
Technical coordinator Hector Murray
Stage manager Anne-Marie Bigby
Singers Melanie Pappenheim, Sohini Alam, Jocelyn Pook (voix/alto/piano), Tanja Tzarovska, Jeremy Schonfield

More about Chotto Desh

Box Office