Timeless and treasured fables for children from the Indian sub-continent are brought to life in a stage production.

As India celebrates 70 years of independence, Mashi theatre look further back in history, a time of magic, mysticism and storytelling. Tales of Birbal brings fables handed down generation to generation across the Indian sub-continent to stages across the UK for families of all backgrounds. 

Mashi and Bhanji are travelling story-tellers, living hand-to-mouth with just a wooden cart, trinkets they have collected on their travels, and a family of mischievous crows for company. 

Stopping one day for lunch, they recreate mythical tales of the great Mughal King Akbar and his wise companion, Birbal. How can a man survive a night in a freezing lake? 

How many crows are there in a kingdom? Only Birbal knows! Using humour, puppetry, music and the occasional fake beard, Mashi and Bhanji bring to vivid life these famous tales that have been treasured for generations.

Mashi Theatre was established in 2013 to present high quality diverse work within the performing arts, particularly for young people. 

A ‘Mashi’ in the Asian culture meaning ‘aunt’ not necessarily a blood relative; a playmaker, confidante, keeper of stories and teller of tales.

Artistic director Trina Haldar moved into theatre following a short career in science/engineering, via First Stage, Live and Direct, Design Direct, DirectorsLab (Chicago) & ASSITEJ (Berlin), The Optimists (China Plate, Establishing networks and Producing skills) and Step Change (National Theatre) and most recently she attended The Clore Short Course. 

Composer  Arun Ghosh is a clarinettist, composer and music educator. Awarded 'Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year' at the 2014 Parliamentary Jazz Awards,  Ghosh is a renowned innovator of the modern IndoJazz style.

He has released three albums: Northern Namaste, Primal Odyssey, and A South Asian Suite. His latest record, But Where Are You Really From? is being released in October 2017.

Writer Sayan Kent comes from London and lives in Coventry. Her comedy My Big Fat Cowpat Wedding (Kali/Black Country Touring) proved a huge hit last autumn when it toured up and down the country to village halls far and wide. 


Full listings information
8 Oct Key Theatre, Peterborough
Embankment Road, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE1 1EF
3.30 and 5.30, £8.50
www.vivacity-peterborough.com | 01733 207 239

9 - 10 Oct a school in Derby or Nottingham (details TBC in Sept)
11 Oct    South Holland Centre, Spalding 23 Market Pl, Spalding PE11 1SS (10.15 and 1.15) £6.50
www.southhollandcentre.co.uk | 01775 764777

12 Oct Riverhead Theatre, Louth  (NB: schools performance only) Victoria Road, Louth, Lincolnshire LN11 0BX
www.louthplaygoers.com | 01507 600350

14 Oct   Derby Theatre

Theatre Walk, Derby DE1 2NF
1.00 and 3.00, £10/£7
www.derbytheatre.co.uk | 01332 593939 


15 Oct  Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst St, Birmingham B5 4TB
11.00 and 2.00, £10/£8/£5
www.birminghamhippodrome.com/about-us/the-patrick-centre | 0844 338 5000

17 Oct Melton Mowbray Library
Wilton Road, Melton Library, LE13 0UJ
11, £4/£3
0116 305 3646 or tickets from the library.

17 Oct Oakham Library
Catmos St, Oakham LE15 6HW
5.00, £4/£3
Book in person at the library, or by telephone 01572 722 918

18 Oct Oadbury Library
10 The Parade, Oadby, Leicester LE2 5BF
10.30, £4/£3
Book in person at the library, or by telephone 0116 299 5494

18 Oct Highfields Library
98 Melbourne Rd, Leicester LE2 0DS
3.30, £4/£3
Book in person at the library, call 0116 299 5494

19 Oct Nottingham Central Library (NB: schools performance only)
Angel Row, Nottingham NG1 6HP 10.30

19 Oct Beeston Library, Nottingham
Foster Ave, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 1AE
4pm, £5/£3
Book in person at the Library, call 0115 925 5168

21 Oct Mulberry and Bigland Green Centre, London
Cannon St Rd, Whitechapel, London E1 2LG 11.00 and 2.30, prices TBC
Tickets on sale soon at http://mbgc.co.uk/

22 Oct    Cambridge Junction
Clifton Way, Cambridge, CB1 7GX
11.30 and 2.30, £10/£6
www.junction.co.uk | 01223 511511
Performances below are part of the Big Imaginations Festival

25 Oct Touchstones, Rochdale
The Esplanade, Rochdale OL16 1AQ
2pm, free
https://link4life.org/ | 0300 303 8633

26 Oct  Burnley Youth Theatre
Queen's Park Rd, Burnley BB10 3LB
10.00 and 1.00, £8/£4
http://burnleyyouththeatre.org | 01282 458655

27 Oct Unity Theatre, Liverpool
1 Hope Place, Liverpool L1 9BG
2.30, £8/£6 
www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk | 0844 8732888

28 Oct Spot On, Lancashire: Kingsfold Library, Penwortham
Hawksbury Dr, Penwortham, Preston PR1 9EJ
3.00, £6/£4
To book drop into the library or email Kingsfold.library@lancashire.gov.uk

30 Oct  The Astley Cheetham Gallery, Stalybridge
Trinity St, Stalybridge SK15 2BN
11.30 and 2.00, £3
http://www.tameside.gov.uk/theatre

31 Oct    Theatre Delicatessen, Sheffield
202 Eyre Street, Sheffield S1 4QZ
11.00 and 2.00, prices TBC
www.theatredelicatessen.co.uk | 0114 278 6500

1 Nov    The Dukes, Lancaster
Moor Lane, Lancaster LA1 1QE
11 and 1.30, £6.80
www.dukes-lancaster.org | 01524 598500

2 Nov The Bureau, Blackburn
25 Victoria St, Blackburn BB1 6DW
2.00, £7/£5
bureaublackburn.co.uk | To book call Kerris on 07845 964802 or email kerris@bureaublackburn.co.uk

3 Nov CRTA: Tarvin Community Centre, Cheshire
Meadow Cl, Tarvin, Chester CH3 8LY
6.00, £6/£4
www.tarvincommunitycentre.org | 01829 741962

4 Nov Z-arts, Manchester 
335 Stretford Road, Hulme M15 5ZA
11.00 and 2.30, £8/£6 
www.z-arts.org | 0161 2326089

5 Nov The Boo, Rossendale
Bacup Road, Waterfoot, Rossendale, Lancashire BB4 7HB
3pm
www.horseandbamboo.org | 01706 220241