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Sunday 6 July
Inspirate’s flagship festival, An Indian Summer, is back from 2 – 6 July. During these five days, the festival will take over spaces across Leicester, bringing a fresh, bold and unique programme of contemporary South Asian arts and culture to Leicester.
The Stories We Bring
The Stories We Shape
This year, the festival invites us to explore the transformative power of storytelling.
“The Stories We Bring, The Stories We Shape” delves into the narratives we inherit and the new ones we create, reflecting upon our collective and personal past, present and future.
We’ll honour the stories that sit deeply within us. Stories that have journeyed across borders and carried through time, passed on and cherished as a collection of memories and traditions, preserving the wisdom of our ancestors.
We’ll reflect upon the stories we are living within now; how they form our sense of self, our way of being, and provide the lens through which we perceive the world around us.
We’ll look towards the future and the stories we want to shape and tell; evolving identities, new perspectives, opening up possibilities, reclaiming our histories, reframing, challenging, igniting change.
This year’s festival will be a living, breathing and fluid space where these stories are told, explored and absorbed.
Through theatre, movement, dance, poetry, film, music and conversation, we invite our audiences and artists alike to come together, to share, imagine and create the stories that feel most vital to us.
Parmjit Sagoo – Festival Director
Keep scrolling to find out more about what’s taking place in the building during the festival!
FANTASTIC TALES WITH PETER CHAND
British Punjabi Storyteller Peter Chand will be sharing wild and wonderful stories from his Motherland and beyond in the heart of Leicester.
Free to attend, but booking is essential.
ANCIENT GIANTS
Inspired by the ancient South Asian tales she’s heard throughout her childhood, a young girl called Shanti imagines a battle between Hanuman the Monkey God and Ravana the Demon King. This epic encounter is brought to life through an extraordinary fusion of large scale puppetry, dance and martial arts. Beginning in the foyer and around the building from 11am.
Puppets made and designed by Tom Cleaver.
Supported by Arts Council England and Without Walls.
Free to attend, no booking required.
Roots to Rise Movement Workshop
Join dance artist and choreographer Nandita Shankardass for a workshop inspired by the themes of Roots to Rise. This event is taking place from 11.15am.
Age Guidance: 7+
ROOTS OF OUR TREE
Drop in and spend a few creative minutes or a few relaxing hours immersed in a visual art workshop on the Mezzanine, 11am – 4pm.
Take inspiration from your own roots; your beliefs, family heritage, culture.
Are there trees here or around the world that hold personal or cultural significance to you and your family?
Working collectively we will create a communal installation reminiscent of Himalayan prayer flags. We will use a mixture of mediums including textiles, collage, drawing and stitching to create personal interpretations on our theme; ‘The Roots of our Tree’. The final creation will be hung like bunting to decorate the festival, celebrating the roots that connect us, and what blossoms from our heritage to make us all unique.
Free to attend, no booking required.
GOLDEN THREAD SHARING CIRCLE
Facilitated by Jewellery Designer, Artist & Curator Anisha Parmar, supported by Yoga Teacher & Wellbeing Practitioner Jameni Ladva.
Age Guidance: 18+
This event is for women only.
Free to attend, but booking is essential.
NUPUR ARTS
Nupur Arts will be taking over the Curve foyer with an afternoon of classical and contemporary South Asian dance, performed by their students and company artists. Taking place in the foyer from 12pm – 5pm.
Free to attend, no booking required.
VIDYA PATEL: A BRIDE'S WOVEN PLEA
Dance artist and choreographer Vidya Patel, during her artist residency with the Philharmonia Orchestra, brings together collaborators; Shammi Pithia to create an original score, and spatial designer Shankho Chaudhuri for this new work A BRIDE’S WOVEN PLEA.