Performer: Kalamandalam Vijayakumar. Photo: Garry Laybourn.

This historical project, kindly supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund [London], was instigated by Kathakali make up and costume specialist, Kalamandalam Barbara Vijayakumar.

The project aims to explore what the costumes of KATHAKALI, the classical dance drama of Kerala South West India, tell us about life in 17th century Kerala [when Kathakali emerged from the temple arts] and how they changed over the centuries.

The project will provide an opportunity to:

• Examine how the clothes that people of Kerala wore in everyday life compared to the elaborate costumes that they created to express their spiritual beliefs.
• Study how the traditional dress of Kerala can identify gender, religion, job & age.
• Explore a time when Kathakali was supported by the kings, the priests and temples had great power within the community and highly skilled craftsmen devoted hours to creating images that were to represent the great Hindu gods.
• Trace the historical journey that these costumes made from prosperity to decline. Kathakali was saved from extinction in the 20th century by the great poet Vallathol Narayana Menon with the foundation of the Kerala Kalamandalam.

The project will consist of:
A series of workshops in the Kathakali costumes, the symbolic meaning of the colours, conservation, the characters that they represent, how the characters move and relate to others in the Kathakali plays.
At Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance (Room LH002)

Thursday 27th and Friday 28th October (times to be confirmed).

Research to reveal:

• How Kathakali actor, Kalamandalam Vijayakumar, brought Kathakali and the original costumes from his native Kerala to the UK.
• What traditions the people of Kerala brought with them as they migrated to the Redbridge area and what they had to leave behind.
• An exhibition of Kathakali costumes, and the result of the research, will be displayed at Redbridge Museum as a celebration of the people of Kerala. Young people will be encouraged to appreciate that the clothes they are wearing today will one day be history and illustrate that “WE ARE WHAT WE WEAR”.

This is a unique experience to explore a fascinating element of Kerala culture, and also to take part in a major research project.

Participation in the workshops is free, but numbers are strictly limited and subject to availability.

Please note that participants will be expected to attend both workshop days.

For RSVP and further enquiries, please contact Dr. Paul Fryer at: paul.fryer@bruford.ac.uk

The company was led by Kalamandalam Gopi, former Principal of the Kerala Kalamandalam and considered to be the finest actor of the older generation, particularly of heroic paccha roles. Company Directors, Kalamandalam Vijayakumar and Kalamandalam Barbara Vijayakumar, and the College dedicated the performance to David Bolland in honour of his lifetime work in support of Kathakali and the artists of Kerala, South India.

The performance also marked a debt of gratitude to David Bolland for the generous gift of his extensive film and video collection to the College. His Collection covers material dating from the 1950s and represents the finest record in existence of the major performers of the second half of the twentieth century. The transfer of the major parts of the collection to DVD has recently been completed by former Vice-Principal, Anthony Hozier, for general viewing in the College’s Library.

In a brief ceremony in the Library during the afternoon – with live music and a heartfelt speech by Barbara Vijayakumar – Kalamandalam Gopi and the company formally handed over the archive on behalf of David Bolland to two students who will represent the interest of future generations in the art of Kathakali. The events of the day provided a great opportunity to bring together the Company, the College and old friends from India to celebrate the major contribution of David Bolland to Kathakali.

Photo Credits

• Top Left, from the left: Nelliode Namboodiri, David Bolland, Kalamandalam Gopi, Kalamandalam Barbara Vijayakumar.
• Top middle, from the left: Anthony Hozier, Nelliode Namboodiri, David Bolland, Kalamandalam Gopi, Kalamandalam Vijayakumar, Kalamandalam Haridas, Kalamandalam Barbara Vijayakumar.
• Top Right, from the left: David Bolland, Kalamandalam Gopi.
• Bottom Left: Kalamandalamn Unnithan & Kalamandalam Vijayakumar. Photo courtesy of Kala Chethena Theatre Company.
• Bottom Middle: Kalamandalam Gopi & Kalamandalam Vijayakumar. Photo courtesy of Kala Chethena Theatre Company.
• Bottom Right:Kalamandalam Gopi. Photo courtesy of Kala Chethena Theatre Company.

“The Kala Chethena Kathakali Theatre Company is one of the world’s foremost Indian dance companies. Credited with developing Kathakali in the UK via its hugely successful tours, the Company now returns to celebrate its 21st anniversary with a tour of Kathakali: the classical dance – drama from South India.”

From the Kathakali National Tour Programme Notes

(Kalamandalam Viyaykumar)

To reserve tickets:
Telephone: 030 8308 2616
Email: boxoffice@bruford.ac.uk
Book online: boxoffice@bruford.ac.uk

Ticket Price: £ 7
Concession Price: £ 5 ( Senior Citizens, Job Seekers, Students, Under 18s, Equity Members )

For further information on the Tour and the history of the company, visit www.kathakali.net.