British Asian theatre arts will be celebrated and explored at a major international conference at the University of Exeter in April.

The event is a culmination of a 4 year research project led by the Drama Department to address the lack of resources that offer a historical and critical analysis of South and British Asian drama in the UK.

Over 35 theatre practitioners will be participating at the event, exploring the history and development of British Asian Theatre from past to present. In the talks and round table discussions a range of themes will be discussed including the role of music, language and dance, stage design, the influence of tradition on contemporary theatre, politics of funding and mixing with the main stream.

Internationally renowned Asian theatre practitioners including Anuradha Kapur (Director, National School of Drama Delhi), Girish Karnad, India’s much awarded playwright and director, Rahul Varma, Artistic Director of the Montreal based theatre company Teesri Duniya will be amongst the speakers.

The aim of the project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council is to create new teaching materials and historical documentation on British Asian theatre. An archive of interviews will be housed at the University of Exeter and will hold over 100 video and audio recordings.

A Documented History is one of two volumes to be published in September from the research material and will include a significant survey of Asian theatre activity in the UK before 1975 and accounts of practitioners up to present day. A CD-ROM of selected images, clips and audio recordings will also accompany the book.

An event that focuses on the arts would not be complete without providing cutting edge live performances throughout. Talented composer and music producer Kuljit Bhanra (Bend It Like Beckham & West End musical Bombay Dreams) is teaming up with poet Shamshad Khan for a newly commissioned performance piece at The Exeter Phoenix Arts Centre.

Devon based vocalist Pooja Angra will be performing with former members of Dhani an Asian fusion band and Bradford based musicians Najam Javed and Shabaz Hussain will thrill delegates on the first night of the conference. Live artist Rajni Shah will be metamorphosing between Queen Elizabeth I and an Indian bride in a four hour durational performance that explores the politics of colonialism and identity.

The conference and material generated from the research project will significantly increase the resources available for the study of contemporary British theatre and further encourage cultural diversity and international research.

The British Asian Theatre: From Past to Present is on 10 -13 April at the University of Exeter is available to delegates who register and the performance at Exeter Phoenix 11 April is open to the public.

http://www.spa.ex.ac.uk/drama/research/batp/conference_schedule.shtml