British Asian Theatre
Date
1982
History
British Asian Theatre (or British Asian Theatre Company) was a touring theatre company which developed out of Star Productions. During 1983-1986 the company was based on Thistlewaite Road, Clapton.
It received funding support from Hackney Council's Arts and Entertainments Service. A report to the Leisure Services Committee details grant funding agreed in principle for 1984/85, and assistance was given for the 1990 production of Lallu in London (see 1991.992).
In November 1984 they opened a tour of A Man I Never Knew (or Woh Ajnabi) at Hoxton Hall. This play explored how the history of the British in India was taught in schools, and dealt with issues of racial harassment as well as conflict between generations. A filmed excerpt of an earlier 1982 production staring the theatre's director Raj Patel is held in The Media Archive for Central England, amd a photo of a later production features in the Hoddesdon and Broxbourne Mercury 9th February 1990.
In 1983 they were performing Ahmed The Wonderful Oriental Gentleman written by Raj Patel and Dhirendra.
In 1986 at Hoxton Hall they performed Anarkali, where the titular character shares the name of the legendary 16th-century courtesan. The story follows the life of a young Asian woman in 1980s London experiencing an arranged marriage and the judgement of her family as she pursues a dance career. A poster for the production is held by Hackney Archives (Ref: D/S/073/04/01/06/14/34). A photo of the company performing this play appears in the Marylebone Mercury 6th November 1986.
In 1987 Star Productions moved to a new premises Cornthwaite Road, Clapton which they intended to develop into an Asian multi-media arts centre. This new studio was opened by actor Zia Mohyeddin. BAT then describe themselves as being based at 'Star Studios' at this address.
In 1988 the company toured with a double bill under the heading of Curried Chips. The two plays were Siege Mentality by Gurmeet Mattu and Mirza Ghalib in London, the latter originally written in Urdu by Shamsu Agha.
The British Asian Theatre continued to be active into 1992, with performances of Some Other Time by Jimi Rand at Star Studios.
It received funding support from Hackney Council's Arts and Entertainments Service. A report to the Leisure Services Committee details grant funding agreed in principle for 1984/85, and assistance was given for the 1990 production of Lallu in London (see 1991.992).
In November 1984 they opened a tour of A Man I Never Knew (or Woh Ajnabi) at Hoxton Hall. This play explored how the history of the British in India was taught in schools, and dealt with issues of racial harassment as well as conflict between generations. A filmed excerpt of an earlier 1982 production staring the theatre's director Raj Patel is held in The Media Archive for Central England, amd a photo of a later production features in the Hoddesdon and Broxbourne Mercury 9th February 1990.
In 1983 they were performing Ahmed The Wonderful Oriental Gentleman written by Raj Patel and Dhirendra.
In 1986 at Hoxton Hall they performed Anarkali, where the titular character shares the name of the legendary 16th-century courtesan. The story follows the life of a young Asian woman in 1980s London experiencing an arranged marriage and the judgement of her family as she pursues a dance career. A poster for the production is held by Hackney Archives (Ref: D/S/073/04/01/06/14/34). A photo of the company performing this play appears in the Marylebone Mercury 6th November 1986.
In 1987 Star Productions moved to a new premises Cornthwaite Road, Clapton which they intended to develop into an Asian multi-media arts centre. This new studio was opened by actor Zia Mohyeddin. BAT then describe themselves as being based at 'Star Studios' at this address.
In 1988 the company toured with a double bill under the heading of Curried Chips. The two plays were Siege Mentality by Gurmeet Mattu and Mirza Ghalib in London, the latter originally written in Urdu by Shamsu Agha.
The British Asian Theatre continued to be active into 1992, with performances of Some Other Time by Jimi Rand at Star Studios.