Alchemy (2015)
Alchemy is a festival pioneered by the Southbank Centre in London. The festival focuses on South Asian arts and culture, and celebrates its influences here in the UK, aiming to showcase both well-known and emerging artists across the different art forms including theatre, music, comedy, dance, art installation and literature. It also features a food market where festival goers get to experience and taste another aspect of South Asian life.
Launched back in 2010, the festival offers a wide programme of events both ticketed and free entry. In 2015 for the first time the festival will tour to three other regions. Alongside Oldham Colosseumand Cast(Doncaster),Black Country Touring will be a partner in Alchemy. Each partner will host the festival in their region and lead on a new original piece of work for the festival.
Alchemy came to the Black Country in May 2015 and we worked alongside a range of local venues and promoters to make it a very memorable experience. The festival also featured a new show created by Black Country Touring and Sonia Sabri Company: ‘Occasionally We Skype’. There was also a Black Country exclusive performance of award winning play ‘Nirbaya’ commissioned by the Southbank Centre for Alchemy 2015, with an international cast and creative team the play tackles stories behind gender based violence.
Black Country Touring are committed to supporting our local partners and promoters to bring the best professional theatre, dance, music, storytelling, comedy and workshops inspired by the South Asian culture to their local communities as part of the festival.
Click here to visit the Alchemy Black Country 2015 webpage with full listings of all festival events
The Black Country Touring played host to the Alchemy Festival again in 2017.