Chotto Desh

Chotto Desh is a danced story which follows an adult delving back into his childhood memories. It explores the experiences of a child raised in the two radically different societies of Bangladesh and Britain.

in 2011, Desh met with immediate success around the world. Building on that, he created a version for children aged 7+ and their families, with the help of the theatre director Sue Buckmaster. Chotto Desh is a danced story which follows an adult delving back into his childhood memories. It explores the experiences of a child raised in the two radically different societies of Bangladesh and Britain. Beyond the coming-of-age story, it is an immersive show mixing different registers of dance, words, mime and video. It deftly plays with computer-generated images as the dancer climbs to the treetops, plays with an elephant and butterflies, or sets sail on a magical ship. Akram Khan has an unmatched talent for creating before our very eyes a world full of marvels, tempting us to follow him on a fantastical journey.

Source: Biennale de la Danse

Presented by Arte France, 24 IMAGES
Maison de la Danse, Lyon, France – 2017, 9th of december
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Artistic Direction and Original Choreography Akram Khan
Direction and Adaptation Sue Buckmaster (Theatre-Rites)

Music Composition Jocelyn Pook
Lighting Design Guy Hoare
Stories imagined by Karthika Naïr and Akram Khan
The grandmother’s fable in Chotto Desh is taken from the book The Honey Hunter
Written by Karthika Naïr, Sue Buckmaster and Akram Khan
Assistant Choreographer Jose Agudo
Grandmother’s voice Leesa Gazi
Jui’s voice Sreya Andrisha Gazi

Dancers Dennis Alamanos or Nicolas Ricchini

Producer Claire Cunningham on behalf of AKCT

Original Visual Design Tim Yip
Original Visual Animation created by Yeast Culture
Original Costume Supervisor Kimie Nakano

Sound Designer and AV Engineer Alex Stein
Music Engineer Steve Parr
Costume Reconstruction Advisor Martina Trottmann
Technical Manager Ed Yetton
Rehearsal Director Amy Butler
Stage Manager Dean Sudron

Painted Head Sequence devised by Damien Jalet with Akram Khan
‘Bleeding Soles’ lyrics written by Leesa Gazi
Singers Melanie Pappenheim, Sohini Alam, Jocelyn Pook (voice/viola/piano), Tanja Tzarovska, Jeremy Schonfield 

We gratefully acknowledge the artists who contributed to the original production of DESH by Akram Khan Company. 

Co-commissioned by MOKO Dance, Akram Khan Company,  Sadler’s Wells London, DanceEast, Théâtre de la Ville Paris, Mercat de  les Flors Barcelona, Biennale de la danse de Lyon 2016 and Stratford  Circus Arts Centre.

Supported by Arts Council England