Tamasha Tales 2025
TAMASHA TALES is a new series of commissioned short pieces, which celebrates global storytelling and cultural intersectionality through multi-disciplinary artistic collaboration.
Folk tales, myths and fairy tales bridge the gap between our childhood and adulthood and for that reason they continue to resonate and endure generation after generation. Ultimately, these stories reflect upon and teach us about the human condition which transcends all other differences. Adapted, revised and transformed in each telling, they remain accessible through our rich oral, visual and written histories.
Tamasha Tales is an opportunity for a broad range of artists to interpret a Global Majority folk tale, whilst responding to current social political contexts.
In its inaugural year, we’re thrilled to announce two pairs of co-creative collaborators and their respective pieces.
Testament & afshan d’souza-lodhi
Testament is an acclaimed writer, rapper and Guinness world record breaking human beatboxer. His work ranges from spoken word poetry, playwrighting and composition, to essay writing, live beatbox show to radio presenting.
afshan d’souza-lodhi was born in Dubai and forged in Manchester. She is a writer of scripts and poetry. Her work has been performed and translated into numerous languages across the world.
Noor and the fallen son
When a midnight ritual to chase away jinn wakes her neighbour Daniel, Noor sparks a connection that burns through superstition, desire, and generational curses. This is a contemporary love story that plays with myth, fire and the shadow of the Iblis.
Rani Moorthy & Sarah Sayeed
Rani Moorthy is a talented writer working across theatre, film, radio and dance as well as being a performer and the Artistic Director of Rasa Theatre. Her work has consistently celebrated and explored the universal migrant experience.
Sarah Sayeed is a musician, composer, writer and writer with over 15 years of experience working collaboratively with a range of artists. As a musical artist, her practice focuses around contemporary works that are influenced by hip hop, jazz, orchestral ideas, Indian and Bengali classical vocals & instrumental works.
Beyond the Mountain
An ambitious king, Sultan Mahmoud, uses his power to woo the princess, Puteri Gunung Ledang ensconced in a mysterious mountain. Establishing this legendary beauty as his wife will consolidate his empire. But the path to the mountain and to the princess is ridden with obstacles, both physical and supernatural. He sends his bravest warrior Hang Tuah who manages to get to the princess and on the king’s, behalf asks for her hand. Perhaps aware that the proposal was probably a show of entitlement rather than love, the Puteri makes seven commands, all testing his resolve and in the final decree, self-sacrifice. From this seemingly improbable test, the sultan stumbles on his overarching ego, and the Princess, quietly defiant remains independent.
A rich fifteen minute audio cinematic experience which revisits the Malaysian legend Puteri Gunung Ledang, positioning her less as a lonely enigmatic princess longing for love but more as the mistress of her true calling: as guardian of revered Ledang.
With multiple Malaysian voices and languages including Malay, Chinese Bengali, Sanskrit and Tamil, dramatic scenes and a layered musical soundscape drawing from several cultural perspectives, this work as a sonic tapestry re-imagines the enduring legend from an inventive, fresh perspective.
Both Noor and the fallen son and Beyond the Mountain will be available to enjoy this Autumn. Follow us on socials and subscribe to our mailing list to receive the latest updates.
