The Troth | Features in Asian Age
“Usne Kaha Tha, produced by Akademi, London under executive producer, Mira Kaushik, is just what the “cultural” doctor ordered…..”
Sharon Lowen reviews The Troth’s performance at Kamani Auditorium in New Delhi, that was organised by Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
“The long legged twists and turns of Daniel Hay-Gordon who also later plays the Sergeant Major and Lt Sahib, communicate the patronizing and arrogant attitude of masterful manipulation.”
“Vidya Patel (Leela), brought a gazelle-like quality to the young Leea and tragic passion to the grown woman separated by war from her husband and son in spins of despair. Subhash Viman Gorania (Lehna Singh) definitely brought his unorthodox and quirky edge to this performance.”
“Deepraj Singh (Wazira), known as an explorative urban improviser with beatboxing/vocal percussion skills, all well used as WW1 Punjabi soldier.”
“Songhay Toldon (Leena’s husband the Subedar) and Dom Coffey ( their son Bodha) both brought solid contemporary dance backgrounds to their top notch performances.”
Sharon Lowen
Read: An invisible chapter of history comes to life by Sharon Lowen in Asian Age
The Troth – Usne Kaha Tha
Akademi’s The Troth – Usne Kaha Tha is a gripping wartime story of love and loss, told through powerful dance theatre. Inspired by a 1915 short story Usne Kaha Tha by Chandradhar Sharma Guleri, it tells the story of Sardar Lehna Singh’s sacrifice of keeping his secret promise to an unrequited love while mid-conflict in the horror of the trenches of Belgium. Directed by Gary Clarke, the show features a specially-commissioned music score by Shri Sriram, and a cast including Vidya Patel (BBC Young Dancer 2015 finalist).
2018 UK and International tour dates
The Troth is funded by Arts Council England; Ministry of Culture, Government of India; Armed Forces Covenant Fund; Cockayne Grants for the Arts through the London Community Foundation; PRS for Music Foundation; ICCR; and Air India. Partners include UK-India Year of Culture; British Council; The Space; Imperial War Museum; National Army Museum; The Nehru Centre, London; Watermans Arts Centre; and Teamwork Arts.