Six Decades. Six Stories. One British Bangladeshi Journey.

Narratives of Time Anthology by Arts Without Border

Sunday 1 November

Doors 3.30pm, Show 4.00pm

English/Bangla | 90 minutes I All ages

The Archive Calls Back (2010–2013) by Dr Canan Salih. A new generation begins recording the stories of those who came before. As memories surface, the past begins to pull us backwards. though six decades of British Bangladeshi theatre and life.

The Ambush (2000s) by Shohidur Rahman. Milon and Tanya are secretly heading off to see a show, but two sharp-eyed Aunties appear. They discover that getting caught may reveal more than they bargained for.

The Banglo Saxons (1990s) by Heeva Raza. Jack Straw visits the community - and has everyone speaking differently. A playful look at how accent, language and the way the way we speak can change how others see us.

Dancing Through Shame (1980s) by Asma Anjum. A young girl mesmerised by a dance performance discovers what she wants to become. But following that dream means challenging family expectations, facing embarrassment and shame.

We Survive by Making Art (1970s) by Tasmia Tahsin East London, 1977. Four young Bangladeshis come together to make theatre. As they debate what story to tell, their own lives and the world around them begin to find their way onto the stage.

The Phone Box (1960s) by Dr Canan Salih. A young Bengali woman, newly arrived in Britain, finds a moment of freedom inside a London phone box. Between expectation and possibility, a new world opens up. Community, culture and performance are key to this.

We begin with the archive. We end at the beginning.

Narratives of Time is a theatre anthology about East London from the 1960s to 2013. It celebrates the history of British Bangladeshi drama, storytelling, and community arts. Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

It is developed by Dr Canan Salih with four emerging writers; Syed Tasmia Tahia, Asma Anjum, Heeva Reza and Shohidur Rahman. The production draws on interviews with artists, organisers, performers, writers, and community figures. These people shaped generations of cultural life. The piece brings together memory, humour, politics, migration, language, and intergenerational exchange. It moves through time, tracing how communities used theatre. It was a means to survive, resist, gather, and imagine new futures. Narratives of Time honours the people who built spaces for Bengali stories on stage. It invites today’s audiences to listen again and question inherited histories. See how the past continues to speak through the present.

About the Company: Arts Without Borders (AWB) creates socially engaged theatre. It also delivers heritage and youth or community arts projects. It connects artists, communities and lived histories. AWB has roots in East London and international practice. Work focuses on underrepresented voices and participation. Dialogue between generations is key. There is also an emphasis on culturally specific storytelling.

Description supplied by the event organiser.