A fascinating new Diwali Puppet Parade and Performance comes to the city of Leicester on November 2.
Founded by Inspirate’s An Indian Summer (AIS), the show will bring a contemporary twist to the story of Diwali.
A giant Puppet parade and performance will re-imagine characters, Hanuman and Ravana as 10ft puppets that tower above a dance battle as two armies collide.
A treat for the all the family, the dazzling performance, will begin with a short procession of 30 dancers, four dhol drummers and two stilt walkers. Led by the giant puppets, the opposing armies of monkeys and demons will eventually come together in an enchanting dance performance.
The production, which is supported by the University of Leicester, is a vibrant celebration of South Asian culture. AIS have worked with an emerging generation of outdoor artists, including Mr Cleavers Monsters, Enter Edem, Nupur Arts and Dhol Enforcement Agency.
Jiten Anand, director of An Indian Summer, said: “This puppet performance has been in the pipeline for a few years now and we’ve finally put it together. We’ve created the two giant puppets and there’s going to be a cast of around 35 people, so it’s really to try and bring a modern twist to Diwali and to also engage a younger generation of people into a very traditional festival.
“We’re delighted to be partnering with the University of Leicester on this project, there are a lot of students involved in the dance performance and many will also be involved in the school workshops and activities.”
The University of Leicester said: “Every year, the streets of Leicester are lit up by the excitement and vibrancy of the city’s wonderful Diwali celebrations. The University is always excited to be part of the festivities and it is fantastic that our staff and students are taking part in this performance, which we expect will bring a unique perspective on Diwali.”
The spectacle will start at 5pm outside of the city centre’s Clock Tower.
The spectacle will be a part of Leicester’s Diwali festivities which begins with the Light Switch-On, on 28 October and Diwali Day on 7 November.
