Gauhar Jaan - The Datia Incident

Omnibus, 1 Clapham Common, Northside
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Event has ended
This event ended on Sunday 29th of April 2018
Admission
£15 adults, £12 concessions
Venue Information
Omnibus Theatre
Clapham Common Northside, SW4 0QW
Nearest Tube/Rail Stations
Clapham Common 0.22 miles

Tarun Jasani's new play is a historical re-imagining, inspired by the real-life experiences of Gauhar Jaan, one of India's most renowned singing and dancing sensations. The story, interwoven with scandal, intrigue and invention, follows the journey of engineer Fredrick Gaisberg as he makes his way across India to record her beautiful voice.

India, Oct 1902. Fred Gaisberg is travelling across the country capturing the exotic sounds of the East to be played on his miraculous new machine, the gramophone. He is hoping to record the beautiful voice of Gauhar Jaan, a young courtesan famed not only for her musical prowess but her arrogance.

Numerous travellers Gaisberg meets along the way recount the famous Datia Incident where the Maharaja and Gauhar Jaan 'the Queen of the Arts' indulged in a fierce battle of egos, the outcome of which threatens Gaisberg's mission. Each tells the tale of what happened on that dark day in Datia. So what exactly happened?

Set against the backdrop of the Mughul courts, this multilingual drama - fusing music and dance - explores India's recording history at the dawn of the 20th century and touches on the wider themes of inequality, self-belief and empowerment.

Tags: Theatre

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