BandBazi Productions Opens MIND WALKING Today
By: BWW News Desk Mar. 22, 2013
Award winning, multicultural aerial theatre company BandBazi takes to the road this spring with a poignant study of a man as his mind falters and he is gradually lost to the alternative reality of dementia. Tanika Gupta's Mind Walking is a warm, humorous and poignant celebration of the life of one extraordinary individual, the enduring love story of a mature couple and the tale of a family coming to grips with a mind as it leaves the present and wanders back into an untold past.
Bobby has led a remarkable life. Migrating from India as a young man he found love in the UK with his with wife Moira but as a Parsee, Bobby was expected to marry within the community. His family disowns him and as a result he cuts them, their religion and their culture from his life forever. Then as his mind unravels so too does the truth of the heritage that he has concealed from those around him. As secrets and stories tumble out of Bobby's mouth, his family starts to question their ancestry and shared history.
An aerial drama by acclaimed playwright Tanika Gupta, Mind Walking is an intergenerational story of family ties, religious dogma, cultural expectations and the role the past plays in defining the present. The work was first staged in 2011 as a co-production with Q Theatre Productions Mumbai. That tour included performances at Delhi International Festival, Jagriti Theatre, Bengaluru Centrestage Festival and the National Centre for Performing Arts, Mumbai.
Tanika Gupta is an acclaimed British playwright and TV dramatist. Her work for theatre includes Skeleton, a translation of Bertolt Brecht's The Good Woman of Sechuan, The Waiting Room (Winner of the John Whiting Award 2000); Sanctuary, Inside Out, Fragile Land (nominated for the Olivier and EMMA awards 2003); Hobson's Choice (Young Vic; nominated for the Olivier Award 2003); Gladiator Games, Sugar Mummies, Catch, White Boy; Meet the Mukherjees, her adaptation of Charles Dickens Great Expectations and Wah!Wah!Girls, a British Bollywood musical. Her work for television includes the series Eastenders, The Bill, All About Me and Grange Hill. Her original screenplays for television include Flight (BBC2, 1997) and Banglatown Banquet (BBC2, 2006). She has also written over 30 plays for BBC Radio. The world premiere of Tanika Gupta's new play The Empress directed by Emma Rice opens the RSC 2013 season in The Swan Theatre this spring.
BandBazi (Farsi: Trapeze) BandBazi is an award winning performing arts company with an outstanding reputation for community outreach. Founded in 2001 by Artistic Director, Philippa Vafadari; its 'aerial dramas' combine strong storylines and stunning aerial circus imagery to create innovative, original and accessible work; addressing issues such as mental health, cultural identity, gender and social relationships.
BandBazi Productions presents
MIND WALKING
By Tanika Gupta
Director John Binnie
Choreographer Philippa Vafadari
Aerial Designer / Rigger Jonathan Campbell
Designer Ellen Cairns
March
22nd Albany, Deptford London
25th Brighton Dome Studio
27th & 28th The Dukes Lancaster
April
5th Barnsley Civic
6th Greentop Sheffield
10th Carriageworks Leeds
12th Georgian Theatre Royal Richmond
13th Brunton Theatre Musselburgh
14th Lochgelly Theatre Lochgelly
19th Junction Goole
20th Square Chapel Halifax
21st Theatre Royal Wakefield
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