PERFORMANCE "Aruna and the Raging Sun" largest outdoor spectacle led by differently-abled people in India > 6:30pm on on 24th February 2018

Venue : Lady Willingdon College Campus, Marina Beach Road, Chennai

Time : 6.30 pm

Entry : Free

Venue : Lady Willingdon College Campus, Marina Beach Road, Chennai - 600005

Event Description : British Council and UK-based Graeae Theatre Company in collaboration with Spanish La Fura dels Baus will be presenting Aruna and the Raging Sun. Even though this is being held in Chennai, it will be the largest outdoor spectacle led by differently-abled people in India. Appended is the press release for your reference and perusal. Request you to please consider this for your publication.

Aruna and the Raging Sun - The largest outdoor spectacle led by differently-abled people, that Chennai has ever seen
Presented by UK-based Graeae Theatre Company in collaboration with Spanish La Fura dels Baus and British Council along with Chennai based performers
  
Internationally acclaimed performance companies Graeae (UK) and La Fura dels Baus (Spain) will present ‘Aruna and the Raging Sun’ a large-scale show led by differently-abled people, in Chennai, India on Saturday 24 February 2018 at the Lady Willingdon College Campus near Marina Beach. This event is part of the final phase of British Council’s UK-India Year of Culture that aims to celebrate modern day India and inspire millions of young people to build a shared future.

The production includes over 80 differently-abled Chennai-based participants who will deliver one of the largest outdoor spectacle performances the city has ever seen, providing a huge cultural platform for the promotion of differently-abled artists and disability rights. It is supported by Arts Council England and British Council.

Featuring 24-metre-tall puppets, fireworks, jaw-dropping aerial performances, this performance tells the story of a differently-abled superhero helping humanity overcome the challenges of climate change. This astonishing event tells a story of empowerment, of prevailing against the odds, and of an epic battle to save the earth.

“This is a spectacle that Chennai will never have seen before. I'm absolutely delighted that we can showcase incredible artists with disabilities, in a way that will, I hope, continue to look at disability with a fresh and awe inspiring perspective in India,” Amit Sharma, Associate Artistic Director, Graeae Theatre Company

Alan Gemmell OBE, Director India, British Council said,

“We are delighted Graeae Theatre Company is bringing to Tamil Nadu, India such an inspirational show.   We hope this production will inspire the super-hero in all of us as it celebrates the equal contribution the differently-abled and non-disabled people make to all our communities.  The British Council has been in India for 70 years and we’ve been inspired by India every day of those 70 years – by India’s young people, its artists, and its teachers.  We hope to inspire young people all over India to make great art and tell great stories like Aruna and the Raging Sun.”

“The aim of this show is two-fold, one to showcase a spectacle like the city has never seen before and two, to show how differently-abled artists or rather heroes overcome barriers in the performance space,” Patrick Collier, Lead Producer, Graeae Theatre Company

This epic event is suitable for all the family, and FREE to attend.
  
Event Partners:
Graeae Theatre Company and La Fura dels Baus will be partnering with Prakriti Foundation, British Council, the British High Commission, United Nations, Vidya Sagar, ArtSpire, Stray Factory, the Wheelchair Basketball Federation of India, Arts Council England, and numerous disability charities, arts organisations and companies in Chennai.

Generously supported by Arts Council England, British Council, Wellcome Trust, and Apollo Health.