Arvind Mehrotra Poetry Reading

Kala Kahani and Leicester Libraries are delighted to welcome Arvind Mehrotra , the first Indian poet to be nominated for a professorship by Oxford University to Leicester on Thursday 4th March. In his own words he will be ‘entertaining us with 2000 years of Indian poetry in 90 minutes! From early Prakrik love poems to Kabir (15th Century) to Arun Kolatkar (1931 – 2004)
As the author of four books including the 'Absent Traveller' (Penguin Classics) he is also an essayist, editor and translator of numerous works. During his visit to the UK he will be speaking at the Goldsmith’s (University of London), and the English Faculty of Oxford University on Kabir and Kipling, reading poetry with Tom Paulin, Bernard O’Donoghue and others at St Hugh’s College, Oxford, and at the Avril Bruton Creative Writing Prize event, also at St Hugh’s. We are pleased to welcome Arvind to the prestigious City Rooms on Hotel Street from 7pm. Places are limited but tickets are free and will need to be booked in advance via email bookdoctor@leicester.gov.uk or by calling 0116 299 5426
For more details please contact Rebecca Abrahams on 01509 821035 or rebecca.abrahams@charnwood-arts.org.uk
This event would not be possible without the support of the University of Northampton School of Arts and CCFN (Centre for Contemporary Fiction and Narrative)

Writers Events and Programmes

1001 Nights Now

1001 Nights Now in its original form was produced at the Betty Nansen Theatre in Copenhagen in 2002. It came about as an attempt to counteract the Danish establishments and public's increasing intolerance of immigrants and asylum seekers from war torn Muslim countries. Using peoples honest experiences, thoughts and feeling about their countries, heritage and how they are perceived in the western countries they have moved to.

This project is designed to be a take on the epic that is Arabian Nights but the operative word in the title 1001 Nights is NOW. The characters in the play will share the stories of Middle Eastern and North African refugees' stories and struggles in today's Britain. The plot will incorporate the stories of a group of ten writers which will voice the thoughts of a group of illegal immigrant workers in a large Western European factory as they pass the time by telling each other stories.

The specific topic of the stories is open at this stage. This is a lot to do with the fact that Arabian Nights covers almost every possible human experience and we too wish to allow ourselves to be open to learn and be inspired by your experiences of Britain today.

1001 Nights Now originally included 10 writers from Egypt, Afghanistan, Jordon, Iran, Turkey, Lebanon and Tunisia. The British leg of this project which is designed to be a homage and continuation of the project in Copenhagen is currently in the preliminary stages. We envisage it being ready to perform by Autumn 2005. We are currently in search of a writer based in the East Midlands to take part in this project and be one of the ten British based Arab or North African Writers who will create 1001 Nights in Britain.

If you are interest in this writing opportunity contact me on the number below.

Many thanks .

Serenah Brontilla Cole

Tel: 0115 947 4361
Mobile: 07830107358
Email: serenmail3000@yahoo.co.uk

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