PREVIEW: Songs of the Bulbul at Newcastle Theatre Royal

Songs of the Bulbul opens GemArts Masala Festival 2025 at Newcastle Theatre Royal

📍 Newcastle Theatre Royal
📅 Monday 14 July 2025
🎟 Tickets: www.theatreroyal.co.uk 

GemArts’ award-winning Masala Festival returns to the North East from 14–20 July 2025, bringing with it a dazzling celebration of South Asian arts, culture, and cuisine. Kicking off this vibrant week-long festival is a stunning one-night-only performance of Songs of the Bulbul, presented by the acclaimed Aakash Odedra Company at Newcastle Theatre Royal on Monday 14 July.

A poetic, soul-stirring new dance work, Songs of the Bulbul is a deeply moving tribute to Odedra’s late mother. Drawing on the ancient Sufi myth of a nightingale (bulbul) in captivity, the production merges the spiritual intensity of Sufism with the fierce physicality of Kathak dance. Choreographed by Rani Khanam, with a rich musical score by Rushil Ranjan, this performance is as much a visual spectacle as it is a meditation on longing, loss, beauty, and transcendence.

Rooted in Persian imagery, the bulbul's haunting song becomes a metaphor for fleeting moments in dance and the artist’s life — a bittersweet, final expression of freedom and sacrifice. This emotional journey promises to resonate with anyone who has experienced the ache of loss or the search for spiritual truth.

Songs of the Bulbul marks the official launch of Masala Festival 2025, an eclectic and joy-filled week curated by GemArts, featuring live music, visual art, film, literature, workshops, and food experiences across venues in Newcastle, Gateshead, and beyond.

Festival Highlights:

• 🎨 Visual Art: Death Magic by Sofia Barton at Vane Gallery, exploring Punjabi perspectives on death and memory through a neurodivergent lens.

• 📚 Literature: Reading and Q&A with Gurnaik Johal, debut author of Saraswati, at Northern Stage.

• 🎬 Film: A powerful line-up including I, the Song (Bhutan), Paradise (Sri Lanka), and Starting Over (diasporic short films) across Tyneside Cinema, BALTIC, and Culture Lab.

• 🎶 Music: Don’t miss Baadal Dvaar se Nazar at Cluny 2 or Blossoming at The Glasshouse, blending Indian classical and orchestral traditions.

• 🥁 Outdoor Events: The energetic Bollywood Brass Band brings a riot of colour to Newcastle City Centre (19 July).

• 🎤 Spoken Word: Freespill returns with bold desi poetry and soul-stirring performances hosted by Newcastle’s Tahmina Ali.

• 🍛 Food: Collaborations with Dabbawal promise authentic street food experiences from across South Asia.

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Workshops & Family Fun: From Bollywood dance to puppet making, there’s plenty for all ages.

• 🎉 MINI MELA: The festival concludes with the much-loved Mini Mela at Bensham Grove (20 July) — a joyful community celebration of crafts, culture and cuisine.

As Vikas Kumar MBE DL, Director of GemArts, puts it:

“This year’s programme promises unforgettable performances and inspiring experiences. Join us as we celebrate desi voices, spark new conversations, and create moments of connection, joy, and celebration.”

Don’t miss your chance to experience this extraordinary opening night and a week full of unforgettable South Asian culture.

🔗 Full programme and booking info: www.gemarts.org