Organiser

Tara Theatre
Tara Theatre
Phone
020 8333 4457
Email
info@taratheatre.com
Website
Tara Theatre

Location

Birmingham Repertory Theatre
6 Centenary Sq, Birmingham B1 2EP
Website
https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/

Other Locations

Curve Theatre
60 Rutland St, Leicester LE1 1SB
Website
https://www.curveonline.co.uk/
HOME
2 Tony Wilson Pl, Manchester M15 4FN
Website
https://homemcr.org/
Queen's Theatre Hornchurch
Billet Ln, Hornchurch RM11 1QT
Website
https://www.queens-theatre.co.uk/
Tara Theatre
356 Garratt Lane, Earlsfield, London SW18 4ES
Website
https://taratheatre.com/

Next Event

Date

May 04 2024
Expired!

Time

7:30 pm

SILENCE UK Tour

“It was a great tragedy.  We were friends one day and enemies the next.  I will take these things to my grave.” 

The 1947 partition of India into West Pakistan and East Pakistan – now Bangladesh – saw millions uprooted and resulted in unspeakable violence. It would also shape modern Britain. Witnesses to this brutal moment in history live among us, yet the stories of that time remain shrouded in silence.

SILENCE is a new play focused on communal storytelling – presenting a shared history inspired by the remarkable personal testimonies of people who lived through the last days of the British Raj. Commissioned to mark the 75th anniversary of partition, SILENCE is adapted from Kavita Puri’s acclaimed book Partition Voices: Untold British Stories and was originally co-produced with the Donmar Warehouse. 

The production examined the legacy of this brutal moment in history. Abdul Shayek, former Artistic Director of Tara Theatre, directed the original production and had developed this version for touring at the time of his death in August 2023. Iqbal Khan, Artistic Director of the 2022 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony, and a friend and colleague of Abdul’s, will step in to direct the touring version.

Silence is adapted from the testimonies and stories of people who lived through Partition. It is based on Kavita Puri’s acclaimed book Partition Voices: Untold British Stories and written by Sonali Bhattacharyya, Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, Ishy Din and Alexandra Wood.  

Original production directed and developed for tour by Abdul Shayek
Directed by Iqbal Khan 

From an original co-production by Tara Theatre and The Donmar Warehouse
In association with Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch

SILENCE UK Tour Free Sheet

 

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch

6 Apr – 13 Apr
BOOK NOW

 

The Curve, Leicester

16 Apr – 20 Apr
BOOK NOW

 

Birmingham Rep

23 Apr – 27 Apr
BOOK NOW

 

HOME, Manchester

30 Apr – 4 May
BOOK NOW

 

 

Content Advisory

PLEASE NOTE This production features flashing lights, loud noises and strong language.

SILENCE contains scenes that some people may find difficult to watch. The themes of these scenes are detailed below.

This section contains plot information.

SILENCE contains the following content:

Strong language and references to: genocide, colonialism, population displacement, bodily harm, sexual violence, famine, suicide, prostitution, abduction, racism, religious violence – all in the context of the Partition of India and the legacy of Empire.

The stories from this play are dramatisations of personal testimony. People may find this content triggering and distressing.

 

Access Performances

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch

Sat 13 Apr, 2:30PM – Audio Described

The Curve, Leicester

Thu 18 Apr, 7:45PM – BSL Interpreted

Fri 19 Apr, 7:45PM – Captioned

Sat 20 Apr, 2:30PM – Audio Described

Birmingham Rep

Sat 27 Apr, 2:45PM – Captioned

Sat 27 Apr, 7:45PM – Audio Described

 

SILENCE TOUR INFO PACK

The event is finished.