The Roundhouse, Akram Khan Company and Sadler’s Wells have today announced that the multi award-winning choreographer and dancer Akram Khan’s critically acclaimed Until the Lions will return to the venue where it received its world premiere – London’s Roundhouse – for just six performances in January 2019, with Khan dancing the role of Bheeshma for the final time.
Created for the uniquely atmospheric 360° setting of the Roundhouse in January 2016, the inspiration for the piece which Khan choreographed and performs in is taken from poet Karthika Naïr’s book Until The Lions: Echoes from the Mahabharata, an original reworking of the ancient Sanskrit epic. One of Khan’s most thrilling and haunting works, performed in one of London’s most distinctive spaces, Until the Lions runs from 11 – 17 January 2019. Tickets will go on sale to the public on 1st October 2018.
Tapping into his classical roots, Khan combines the Indian dance form Kathak and contemporary dance to explore themes of gender and time. Until the Lions is a battle for justice and liberty, following one of the unsung heroines of the Mahabharata: Amba, a princess abducted on her wedding day who seeks revenge from the gods. This theatrical piece marks Khan’s return to the epic tale, having begun his professional career performing in Peter Brook’s own decade-defining production in 1985.
Khan performs alongside Joy Alpuerto Ritter and Ching-Ying Chien who won the 2016 National Dance Award for ‘Outstanding Female Performance’ (Modern). Accompanying these three extraordinary performers live on stage will be musicians Sohini Alam, Joseph Ashwin, David Azurza and Yaron Engler.
As one of the dance world’s most respected figures, Khan has created an influential body of work, collaborating with an impressive range of performers and artists including Juliette Binoche, Sylvie Guillem, Anish Kapoor, Antony Gormley, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Nitin Sawhney. Khan’s work for the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony was met with unanimous praise. Khan’s recent final solo show XENOS and his production of Giselle for English National Ballet both opened to critical and public acclaim.
