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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.

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

          Book tickets

 

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.

  

 

 


 

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

 

Kathakali Mudras

 

YOU TUBE.

 

http://youtu.be/u7S-c6jlivc

 

 


 

MORE IMAGES OF KATHAKALI

 

 

Photo credit Garry Laybourn

Photo credit Mark Bennet

Photo credit Mark Bennet

 

Photo crddit Garry Laybourn

 

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.