Event Dates
Welcome - thank you for visiting our Event Page.
Prepare to enjoy a feast of events this autumn to include performances, workshops and an exhibition of colourful costumes.
KATHAKALI TOUR 2024 - PERFORMANCES.
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ANCIENT STORYTELLING
Experience a Kathakali story, performed by international artists from Kerala, that illustrates how the communities of today face the same problems as people did centuires ago. The stunning costumes and make up are brought to life through characters representing who we are, our dreams, fears, family relationships, and the impact we are having on this planet.
INCLUDING AN EXHIBITION - WORKSHOPS AND PERFORMANCES
KERALA COMES TO WHITEHILL & BORDON - PETERSFIELD - HASLEMERE 2024.
Immerse yourself in the art, heritage and people of Kerala, southern India.
The Phoenix Theatre and Arts Centre, Bordon, will be hosting an exhibition of Kathakali costumes, traditional dress and photographs 12th October to 30th November 2024.
See the ancient arts of Kerala come alive though Kathakali, Mohiniattam, Bharatanayam and Chenda Melam, performed by experts from Kerala.
Listen to the rhythmn of Chenda Melam [drumming], see the precise movements of Bharatanatyam, enjoy the graceful movements of Mohinattam once performed in the temples and palaces of Kerala then experience the powerful storytelling of Kathakali.
TO BOOK YOUR TICKETS FOR OUR EVENTS
Please follow the links below.
OCTOBER 2024
3rd EXETER PHOENIX, Gandy St, EXETER, Devon. EX4 3LS
TEL; 01392 667080 Book tickets
5th SALTFORD HALL, Wedmore Rd, SALTFORD, BRISTOL. BS31 3BY
TEL; 07922822553 Book tickets
Read about this show on Somerset Live!
10th LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE, 21Kignland Rd, POOLE. BH15 1UG
TEL: 01202 280000 Book tickets
12th THE PHOENIX THEATRE AND ARTS CENTRE, Station Rd, BORDON. GU35 0LR
Kathakali + Chenda Melam [drumming] Bharatanatayam [dance] and Mohinitattam [Dance]
TEL: 01420 472664 Book tickets
18th NEHRU CENTRE, LONDON 6.15pm - 7.55pm
8 South Audley Street, London. WIK 1HF
TEL: 020 7491 3567. www.nehrucentre.org.uk
A free event - on first come first served basis.
19th MILTON KEYNES 6.00pm - 8.00pm
Denbigh School, Shenley Church End, Milton Keynes, MK5 6EX
24th THE CURVE, William St, SLOUGH. L1 1XY
TEL: 01753 303035 Book tickets
26th CARDINAL HEENAN HIGH SCHOOL, Honey`s Green Lane, LIVERPOOL. L12 9HZ.
TEL: 07923437885 Book tickets
28th HASLEMERE EDUCATIONAL MUSEUM, High St, HASLEMERE. GU27 2LA.
TEL: 01428 642112 Book tickets
31st MARKET HALL, 86 Duke St, PLYMOUTH. PL1 4PS - 7.00pm - 9.00pm
TEL: 07929757765 Book tickets
NOVEMBER 2024
1st MARKET HALL, 86 Duke St, PLYMOUTH. PL1 4PS. 2.00pm - 4.00pm
TEL: 07929757765 Book tickets
2nd THE PHOENIX THEATRE AND ARTS CENTRE, Station Rd, BORDON. GU35 0LR.
Kathakali + Exhibition of costumes, Chenda Melam [drumming] Bharatanatayam [dance] and Mohinitattam [Dance]
TEL: 01420 472664 Book tickets
4th MAST – MAYFLOWER STUDIO THEATRE, Above Bar St, SOUTHAMPTON. SO14 7BJ.
TEL: 02380 711811 Book tickets
8th ELGIVA THEATRE, St Mary`s Way, CHESHAM. HP5 1HR
TEL: 01494 582900 Book tickets
EXHIBITION
23rd October - 30th November 2024.
THE PHOENIX THEATRE AND ARTS CENTRE, Station Rd, BORDON. GU35 0LR.
TEL: 01420 472664 More information
An Exhibition of Kathakali costumes, photographs, traditional dress of Kerala and films.
Appreciate the intricate carving of the Kathakali headdresses, the materials used and the characters the costumes represent. View the costumes of Bharatanatyam and Mohiniattam dance , see the traditional dress of Kerala, photographs and films and put these beautiful costumes into historical and social context. The Kathakali costumes will eventually join the costume collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Kathakali, Bharatanatyam and Mohiniattam costumes
Traditional dress of Kerala.
Kathakali - Hamsa - the golden swan.
EXHIBITION AND WORKSHOPS
9th - 30th NOVEMBER 2024.
THE PHOENIX THEATRE AND ARTS CENTRE, Station Rd, BORDON. GU35 0LR
TEL; 01420 472664 www.phoenixarts.co.uk
SEE THE EXHIBITION AND TAKE PART IN A WORKSHOP
Experience a guided tour of the exhibition followed by a practical workshop exploring the graceful movements of Mohiniattam, the powerful steps of Bharatanatyam, the rhythmic sounds of the chenda drum and the powweful stiorytelling of Kathakali.
9th NOVEMBER 2.00pm - 4.00pm
MOHINIATTAM classical dance of Kerala - workshop .
THE PHOENIX THEATRE AND ARTS CENTRE, Station Rd, BORDON. GU35 0LR
TEL: 01420 472664 Book your free ticket here
DETAILS
Explore the graceful movements of Mohiniattam a classical dance once performed in the palaces of Kerala.
Learn how movement, co-ordination and hand gestures work together to create a beautiful dance.
16th NOVEMBER 2.00pm - 4.00pm
CHENDA - drumming workshop
THE PHOENIX THEATRE AND ARTS CENTRE, Station Rd, BORDON. GU35 0LR
TEL: 01420 472664 Book your free ticket here
DETAILS
Explore the rhythmic sounds of the chenda drum.
Discover it`s history, how it arrived in Kerala and what it is used for.
Learn the basic rhythmns and how to use the drum sticks.
23rd NOVEMBER - 2.00pm - 4.00pm
BHARATANATYAM - classical dance workshop
THE PHOENIX THEATRE AND ARTS CENTRE, Station Rd, BORDON. GU35 0LR.
TEL; 01420 472664 Book your free ticket here
DETAILS
Explore the classical movements of Bharatanatyam.
Understand how Bharatanatyam took inspiration from the temple sculptures depicting the basic poses of this remarkable dance.
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30th NOVEMBER - 2.00pm - 4.00pm
KATHAKALI - classical dance - drama of Kerala.
THE PHOENIX THEATRE AND ARTS CENTRE, Station Rd, BORDON. GU35 0LR.
TEL; 01420 472664 Book your free ticket here
DETAILS
To close the exhibition, Kathakali specialists, will demonstrate how the Kathakali characters displayed in the exhibition move, show emotion and tell a story, talk about how the costumes are made and the importance of the precission captured in the three dimensional makeup.
Then enjoy a practical workshop learning how a Kathakali actor tells a story through facial expressions, characters and a 4,000 year old sign language called Mudras.
Kalamandalam Vijayakumar demonstrating the Kathakali gesture for elephant.
Please come and join us.
A warm welcome awaits.
At some of the venues you can come early to see the elaborate Kathakali makeup process, view the costumes and meet the artists.
Please check when you book.
Thank you
Thank you to all the promoters and sponsors who have kindly supported and funded our work.
Without their generous help these rare and exciting events would not have beed possible.
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There`s more ...... KATHAKALI SIGN LANGUAGE - MUDRAS.
Do you want to understand what these Kathakali characters are saying to each other?
Now you can with free lessons online.
Kalamandalam Vijayakumar, Kathakali actor and co-founder of the Kala Chethena Kathakali Company, has created the first digital interactive Dictionary of Kathakali Mudras [sign language] in the world. People can now learn the Mudras [gestures] used in Kathakali and understand what the actors are actually saying.
TO ACCESS KATHAKALI MUDRAS [SIGN LANGUAGE]
Please click below:
WEB SITE
YOU TUBE.
MORE IMAGES OF KATHAKALI
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Photo credit Garry Laybourn
Photo credit Mark Bennet
Photo credit Mark Bennet
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Photo crddit Garry Laybourn
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Photo credit Garry Laybourn
MAILING LIST
Why not join our Mailing List and be the first to know of our events as they are confirmed.
Please follow the link
Contact Us - The Kala Chethena Kathakali Company
PAST PROJECTS:
2023 - 2024
SEPTEMBER 2024
21st - 19th
Castle Cary, North Curry, and Croscombe Village Hall. Supported by Take Art - Somerset.
24th - Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Wales.
PETERSFIELD MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY
Kathakali costume conservation workshops and Solo performance.
People to discovered and learned about the heritage of the Kathakali costumes, the materials used, how to conserve them and finally how a costume is used in performance to represent a character.
Kathakali maskmaking workshop
People learned about the traditional Katyhakali makup designs then created their own intepretation.
October 2021 to July 2022.
Exhibition - WORKSHOPS - PERFORMANCES
Museum of Croydon.
“Life Behind the Costume” heritage project, based at The Museum of Croydon and kindly funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund.
This project featured exhibitions, performances and workshops that explore the culture of Kerala and the remarkable world behind the Kathakali costumes - the history, festivals, people, traditions, food and the arts. Kerala has preserved it`s heritage for centuries as a testemony of how people value and celebrate their identity.
The exhibition, workshops and performances were so popular that it was extended from three weeks to four months.