Freedom and Independence Theatre Festival

For many years, Tower Hamlets Council has been proud to support A Season of Bangla Drama, an annual festival which brings the borough’s communities together each November to celebrate the magic of theatre as well as the arts and cultural traditions of Bangladesh.

As we mark the 50^th anniversary of the Independence of Bangladesh, this has been renamed the Freedom and Independence Theatre Festival.

The themes in the title have inspired the plays and events that make up this year’s programme. We are delighted that we are continuing to profile British Bangladeshi theatre as an important way to spotlight key events of 1971, tell untold stories, and reach out to new audiences.

The variety of plays on offer cover topics including the plight of women, the tales of freedom fighters, the journeys of refugees such as the Rohingya and Vietnamese, as well as the power of protest. 

There will be a fringe programme of events including a Bengali heritage walk, film screenings, an international youth writing project, talks and exhibitions.

The festival will also provide opportunities for audiences to participate through Q&As, and to be immersed in the richness of poetry, music and dance.

This is a fantastic way to learn about the history, legacy and impact of what unfolded half a century ago.

For the full programme listings, please visit our What’s On page or download the full festival brochure.