This year, the theme is ‘Curiosity’ and playwrights have responded to the brief in various imaginative ways - from hard-hitting historical narratives to light-hearted modern satires.
A Season of Bangla Drama, the much-loved celebration of British Bangladeshi heritage and creative expression returns to Tower Hamlets this November with 12 original theatre productions alongside an ambitious fringe programme of over 30 events.
The month-long festival brings together established companies, emerging artists and community organisations to showcase the richness, diversity and evolution of British Bangladeshi storytelling.
This year, the theme is ‘Curiosity’ and playwrights have responded to the brief in various imaginative ways - from hard-hitting historical narratives to light-hearted modern satires.
The festival’s mainstage lineup dives deep into sub-themes of identity, migration, belonging, family secrets, and transformation, conversations about which are becoming more urgent than ever.
Presented across venues including the Brady Arts Centre, ArtsOne, Kobi Nazrul Centre, Root/25 and public spaces, the programme invites audiences of all backgrounds to immerse themselves in stories that have shaped East London for generations.
Celebrating the multilingual nature of British Bangladeshi culture, performances and events include presentations in Bangla, English, Sylheti and other languages.
Lutfur Rahman, Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets said: “For 23 years, A Season of Bangla Drama has been a unique celebration of our vibrant British Bangladeshi community and an important part of Tower Hamlets' cultural life. It continues to provide a platform for established and emerging artists alike, while welcoming audiences from across London to experience the richness of Bangla culture.
“I hope audiences from the borough and beyond, will enjoy this unique and wide-ranging programme, embrace curiosity, discover new stories, and make lasting connections throughout this wonderful month of theatre and creativity.”
A Season of Bangla Drama opens with Narratives of Time. Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the powerful anthology traces six decades of British Bangladeshi theatre and community life in East London.
From there, audiences can experience a remarkable range of new work, including We Don't Say Her Name, a bilingual drama blending live Bengali music with intergenerational storytelling; Old Gate, an intimate exploration of ageing and belonging; I Hear Humming, uncovering hidden histories of women during Bangladesh's Liberation War; To Ammi, With Love, a moving one-woman play about migrant motherhood.
Cllr Minara Khatun, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism said: “More than a festival, A Season of Bangla Drama honours the artists, organisers and communities who have built spaces for Bengali stories in Britain over the past six decades, while creating new opportunities for the next generation of theatre-makers.
“Through performances that span comedy, drama, dance theatre, spoken word and contemporary reinterpretations of classic stories, the programme celebrates our multilingual culture, reflecting the lived experience of East London's communities.”
Beyond the mainstages, the festival's extensive fringe programme creates opportunities for audiences to participate as well as watch. Highlights include playwriting and acting workshops, storytelling sessions, bilingual poetry workshops, fashion illustration, heritage walks, photography exhibitions, film, arts and crafts workshops, community conversations, open mic nights and family-friendly creative activities.
A Season of Bangla Drama runs from 1–29 November 2026. Many events are free or pay what you can, reinforcing the festival's commitment to accessibility and community participation.
For programme information and bookings, visit A Season of Bangla Drama page
Posted on Friday 16th October 2026