NIGHT OF THEATRE is an international night-long festival of contemporary, performing and collaborative arts curated by Trimukhi Platform and organised yearly at Trimukhi Cultural Centre in Borotalpada Santhal village, Jhargram, West Bengal.

Held in partnership with the Embassy of France and the French Institute in India, the Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Kolkata, the Amala Dianor’s dance company and the French Institute in Paris, the University of Québec in Montréal and the Québec Research Fund, the 14th edition took place on Saturday, February 11, 2023. The journey from Kolkata started at noon, coming back to town early morning next day. The 2023 programme involved around 35 Santhal performers from Borotalpada village with a solo dance and a trio choreographed by French-Senegalese Amala Dianor, an open air exhibition designed by Bengali Sumantra Mukherjee, a dance-theatre performance, an happening in memory of Jean-Luc Godard and a video art installation directed by French Jean-Frédéric Chevallier and Bengali Sukla Bar Chevallier, a sound art piece in memory of Samantak Das composed by Canadian André Éric Létourneau and introduced by Bengali Nikhilesh Bhattacharya, a series of Santhal dances and songs selected by Parboti Hansda and Molina Soren, a midnight dinner and a philosophical conversation with the artists about theatre and community moderated by Ashoka University Performing Arts director Justin McCarthy (see the full programme bellow and video captations of the event).

NIGHT OF THEATRE n°14 is supported by Embassy of France in India & French Institute in India, Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Kolkata, University of Québec in Montreal (UQAM), Fonds de Recherche du Québec. Two of Trimukhi Platform artworks to be showcased during the festival are co-produced by Danse élargie 2020 (Théâtre de la Ville, Paris) and Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF). Amala Dianor’s dance company is supported by French Ministry of Culture (DRAC Pays de la Loire) and French Institute in Paris, Pays de la Loire District, Municipal Corporation of Angers and BNP Paribas Foundation.

**SUMANTRA MUKHERJEE EXPLORING THE VILLAGE SURROUNDING / BOROTALPADA DEC 2022**

AMALA DIANOR COMPOSING ‘RE-WIND’ WITH TRIMUKHI PERFROMERS / **BOROTALPADA** **DEC 2022**

JEAN-FRÉDÉRIC CHEVALLIER SETTING UP VIDEO FOR ‘THOUGHTS-OUT’ / **BOROTALPADA** **DEC 2022**

PROGRAMME

the 14 moments of the 14th Night

JANGA DA (n°1)

— a santhal welcoming ritual to be enjoyed with black tea & warm snacks

performed by Parboti Hansda Ξ Pan Hansda Ξ Sombari Hansda Ξ Mado Hembrom Ξ Molina Soren

KIYA BAHA [FLOWERS OF KIYA] (n°2)

— a buru jatra santhal dance & music performance

coordinated by Mado Hembrom Ξ Molina Soren played by Kanai Hansda Ξ Kisun Hansda Ξ Potoram Hansda Ξ Suren Hembrom Ξ Bhogan Hembrom Ξ Lalmohon Hembrom Ξ Chamru Soren Ξ Vikram Soren Ξ Nando Soren performed by Delko Hansda Ξ Pan Hansda Ξ Sombari Hansda Ξ Salge Hansda Ξ Sumila Hansda Ξ Parboti Hansda Ξ Munki Hansda Ξ Gurubari Hembrom Ξ Mado Hembrom Ξ Rupali Hembrom Ξ Sukmuni Hembrom Ξ Mamoni Soren Ξ Molina Soren Ξ Soni Soren

IN MEMORIAM SAMANTAK DAS (n°3)

— a few words followed by a sound art piece

spoken by Nikhilesh Bhattacharya composed & edited by André Éric Létourneau ⇒ HAVE A LISTEN TO THE SOUND ART PIECE

CHACONNE THOUGHTS (n°4)

— a dance-theatre performance

composed by Trimukhi Platform directed by Jean-Frédéric Chevallier in collaboration with Sukla Bar Chevallier performed by Joba Hansda Ξ Sukul Hansda Ξ Surojmoni Hansda with the participation of children from Borotalpada text, video projection & lighting design Jean-Frédéric Chevallier bengali translation & scenography Sukla Bar Chevallier santhali translation Surojmoni Hansda electrical, light & stage set-up Sukul Hansda ⇒ WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION

MAN REC [ONLY ME] (n°5)

— an urban to contemporary dance solo premiered at festival d’avignon, france

choreographed & danced by Amala Dianor original music composed & played by Awir Léon lighting & technical support by Jean-Frédéric Chevallier Ξ Sukul Hansda

IN MOHUA VERITAS (n°6)

— a Santhal singing series

directed by Parboti Hansda sang by Joba Hansda Ξ Parboti Hansda Ξ Shombari Hansda

একসাথে / ÈKSHATHÉ (n°7)

— a contemporary dance performance in an open field

choreographed by Amala Dianor with the complicit gaze of Jean-Frédéric Chevallier danced by Joba Hansda Ξ Sukul Hansda Ξ Surojmoni Hansda produced by Sukla Bar Chevallier original music composed & played by Awir Léon lighting by Jean-Frédéric Chevallier Ξ Sukul Hansda technical support by Dulal Hansda Ξ Jiten Hansda Ξ Robi Hansda ⇒ WATCH A VIDEO

MASS-Q-LINE @ BOROTALPADA (n°8)

— an open air exhibition

painted & designed by Sumantra Mukherjee artistic team in Borotalpada Agnibesh Ghosh Ξ Pradip Jana Ξ Sumantra Mukherjee Ξ Anup Pramanik installation team in Borotalpada Debu Goyala Ξ Shidhu Dandapath Ξ Rakhal Khilari Ξ Surjo Singh ⇒ WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION

IN MEMORIAM JEAN-LUC GODARD (n°9)

— a tender happening

composed by Trimukhi Platform directed by Jean-Frédéric Chevallier produced by Sukla Bar Chevallier performed by Jean-Frédéric Chevallier Ξ Renée Chevallier Ξ Joba Hansda Ξ Surojmoni Hansda lighting & technical support by Sukul Hansda with extracts from “a woman is a woman” Ξ “alphaville” Ξ “nouvelle vague” Ξ “the book of images” by Jean-Luc Godard & “mané 100” by Jean-Frédéric Chevallier artistic inputs by Joseph Danan ⇒ DOWNLOAD THE VIDEO VERSION

COOKING STONE (n°10)

— a video-dance installation premiered at théâtre de la ville, paris

composed by Trimukhi Platform directed & filmed by Jean-Frédéric Chevallier produced by Sukla Bar Chevallier performed by Dhananjoy Hansda Ξ Joba Hansda Ξ Ramjit Hansda Ξ Salkhan Hansda Ξ Sukul Hansda Ξ Surojmoni Hansda video editing & sound design Jean-Frédéric Chevallier in collaboration with Sukla Bar Chevallier ⇒ WATCH THE VIDEO-DANCE FILM

PERFORMING ARTS & COMMUNITY LIFE (n°11)

— a philosophical conversation

moderated by Justin McCarthy with Jean-Frédéric Chevallier Ξ Amala Dianor Ξ Sumantra Mukherjee translated in santhali by Gokul Hansda

WORDS OF THANKS (n°12)

— spoken by Delko Hansda & Didier Talpain (Consul General of France in Kolkata)

THE HAPPY HEARTED ONES (n°13)

— a midnight dinner

prepared by Khudiram Hembrom Ξ Gauri Soren Ξ Vikram Soren produced by Sukla Bar Chevallier for Trimukhi Platform served by Nikhilesh Bhattacharya Ξ Jean-Frédéric Chevallier Ξ Amala Dianor Ξ Joba Hansda Ξ Sukul Hansda Ξ Surojmoni Hansda Ξ Sumantra Mukherjee Ξ Didier Talpain

LITTLE MOVES NEARER TO PEOPLE (n°14)

— a multicultural dance party

mixed by Sukla Bar Chevallier Ξ Jean-Frédéric Chevallier Ξ Amala Dianor Ξ Joba Hansda Ξ Surojmoni Hansda Ξ Sukul Hansda

This programme was woven and composed by Jean-Frédéric Chevallier for Trimukhi Platform in constant complicity with Sukla Bar Chevallier, Nikhilesh Bhattacharya, Amala Dianor, Joba Hansda, Sukul Hansda, Surojmoni Hansda & Sumantra Mukherjee and in close collaboration with Motilal Hansda (Morol of Borotalpada village) & Astrid Wedge (directrice of Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Kolkata).