The second Masala Festival which is a North East festival of South Asian culture, is coming back in July. It promises a hectic programme of art, music, dance, theatre, film, poetry and food. It has been curated by Vikas Kumar, the founding director of GemArts, based in Gateshead, who has been awarded the MBE at the Queen’s Birthday Honours, for his services to arts and culture. He formed the organisation to present events and exhibitions of ethnic diversity across the region. He has grown an audience and helped establish performers and artists from a wide range of backgrounds, at events reflecting various cultures.
It was last year that GemArts presented the first Masala Festival. It was a colourful festival showcasing South Asian arts in the North East. The second Masala Festival is due to be held from 17 to 23 July. A busy programme has been planned and partly focuses on the 70th anniversary of independence of India and Pakistan from Great Britain. Sacred Sounds is the concert slated to open the festival on 17 July. Vikas Kumar said this is also an incredible performance at Sage Gateshead marking the centenary of the First World War. The concert will present hymns that Sikh soldiers took to the trenches and also explores many wartime themes.
The spoken word element will feature Sikh soldiers’ letters exchanged with their families. It will be enhanced by Imtiaz Dharker and his poetry and Jack Lockhart’s animation. The festival will also feature on 18 July, Daljit Nagra, another celebrated poet, reading from his collection and engaging in discussion. A 32-strong choir, Gandharva Choir, will also present Indian choral music on 18 July at 6:30pm at Sage Gateshead. A newly commissioned powerful play by Siddharta Bose, called ‘No Dogs, No Indians’, will be presented to mark the 70th Indian independence day. On 18 July, there will be a special Masala Festival cooking demonstration by Chetna Makan, at Food Nation on Heaton Road, Byker.
On 20 July, Sarathy Korwat Quintet will perform at The Black Swan on Westgate Road. They will fuse Sidi folk music with jazz and electronics. A range of participatory workshops and a film stand will be featured at the festival. On 18 July, the tent erected at Performance Square, Gateshead Quays, will offer family-friendly events including storytelling and dance. The festival will culminate with a special programme of free events at Trinity Square on 22 July, from 11.30am to 2.30pm. On 23 July, there will be a Masala Festival Mini Mela, from 11am to 3pm, at Live Gardens, Live Theatre. All information regarding the programme are on the site- gemarts.org.
