Songs of the Bulbul UK Tour

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Tue 08 Apr 2025 - Sat 19 Jul 2025

A new solo production featuring Indian Kathak dancing is heading on a UK tour after its premiere won acclaim at the Edinburgh International Festival. Songs of the Bulbul opens at Birmingham Hippodrome before heading nationwide.

Birmingham-born dancer Aakash Odedra, pictured, performs the piece described as a "ferocious and contemplative solo." The dance show runs at Birmingham Hippodrome's Patrick Centre from Tuesday, April 8, until Thursday, April 10. The UK tour then visits Lowry's Lyric Theatre in Salford , Sadler's Wells East in London plus Leicester, Brighton, Oxford and more until July 2025.

Songs of the Bulbul recounts an ancient Sufi myth about 'the bulbul' - a Persian nightingale. It was a symbol of beauty in the natural world and the pursuit of religious enlightenment, which, when captured, sings a glorious tune. The song reaches an inexpressibly beautiful pitch in the moments before it perishes from despair.



When the dance production had its world premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival last year, it impressed so much that it was named the festival’s Best Show by The List.

Odedra created the production in collaboration with Delhi-based Kathak choreographer Rani Khanam and composer Rushil Ranjan. Audiences can expect to see expressive hand gestures and other detailed choreography by Khanam, who is well-versed in Islamic and Sufi texts and is an expert in the Kathak form of Indian classical dancing.

The original score, recorded by Manchester Camerata, is a fusion of Indian classical and Western classical traditions, which has been written for orchestra, Qawwali singers and other Indian classical musicians. Composer Ranjan is already renowned in the UK and has previously had his works performed by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

Those attending the performance at Lowry in Salford will have an extra special event and see it accompanied by a live orchestra of 35 players from Manchester Camerata, along with singers Abi Sampa and Sarthak Kalyani.

Leicester-based Aakash Odedra Company presents the new dance work in association with the Manchester Camerata and supported by Jacob's Pillow and public funding from Arts Council England.

Songs of the Bulbul UK Tour Dates

The show is 55 minutes long, and tickets cost from £10 at the Aakash Odedra Company website here .

8 – 10 Apr 2025 – Birmingham Hippodrome, Birmingham - Birmingham Hippodrome website for tickets here or call 0121 689 3000.
29 – 30 Apr 2025 – Curve Theatre, Leicester
6 May 2025 – Lowry, Salford - Lowry Lyric Theatre tickets here
12 – 13 May 2025 – The Mount Without, Bristol
16 – 17 May 2025 – Brighton Dome Corn Exchange, Brighton
20 – 21 May 2025 – Norwich Theatre Playhouse, Norwich
3 June 2025 – Nottingham Playhouse, Nottingham
2 July 2025 – Oxford Playhouse, Oxford
17-19 July 2025 – Sadler’s Wells East, London

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