Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

New Tara Arts boss strives to make culture accessible

by LAUREN CODLING

THE new artistic director of Tara Arts theatre in south London has promised to engage with the local community, describing the Covid-19 crisis as a “real moment  to listen and think about where we are”.


Abdul Shayek was last week announced as the new leader of the arts institution, known for its focus on artists and work of south Asian heritage. In an interview with Eastern Eye, Shayek spoke of his hopes for the theatre and plans to invite members of Tara’s neighbourhood in Wandsworth to join him on walks, to share stories and insights into the local community.

“I think it is really important is that we listen,” he explained. “Covid-19, obviously, has been really detrimental in terms of the challenges it has created. But on the flip side, it has given us an opportunity to do some soul searching, consider what isn’t right within the (arts and culture) sector and think about representation, equality and equity within our institutions.

“We have to seize the moment to change things and that’s why the things we want to start off with at Tara are very much about the community and the stories within it.”

His first piece for Tara, A Final Farewell, will explore how locals said goodbye to loved ones lost during the pandemic. They will be invited to retrace their steps on journeys across the borough, while audience will have the opportunities to listen to stories. He is also inviting artists to join the company’s online forum, Tea with Tara, as a space to listen to their needs post pandemic. Shayek will additionally launch a series of panel discussions to explore issues on race, climate emergency and class.

“We are here to serve (the community and artists) and support them so it is important we understand what they need, rather than coming in and telling them what we think they need,” he said.

Prior to his appointment at Tara, Shayek acted as founding artistic director and CEO of Fio. The only Asian, black and ethnically diverse led theatre company in Wales, Fio’s aim was to provide a platform for voices currently under-represented or misrepresented in society.

Similar to Fio, Tara is known for giving a voice to diverse stories which may not necessarily be shown in the mainstream theatre. Shayek, who is British-Bangladeshi, described Tara as “an important space” for diverse voices to be developed.

“From a south Asian perspective, we are the largest minority group, but it feels like we are not as well represented within the sector,” he said. “I feel like we sometimes don’t have a focus and I feel Tara could be that focal point – the sector needs it, the artists need it and we need to be a real bridge between those large, mainstream institutions and organisations who want to work with these individuals, with these communities, but aren’t sure how they can do that.”

Shayek’s predecessor Jatinder Verma announced he would be leaving Tara last year. Founding the company in 1977, Verma became known as a pioneer for his role in British Asian theatre. Asked how it felt taking over from Verma, Shayek admitted he felt pleased to be coming into a space which had been founded by a figure that had “been super inspirational for a whole host of people”.

He also noted some similarities between himself and Verma. “I believe there is a lot of synergy in term of our values and our ethos. I think I come with a track record and a background in making interesting work, in terms of taking work to communities and engaging with them. “I feel like it is a really exciting opportunity.”

Born in Bangladesh, Shayek moved to the UK when he was three years old. Raised by his mother in east London, he recalled living on benefits and finding it “tough” to access culture and theatre. He and his sister would visit the library regularly (“we would devour books on a Saturday afternoon”), but they did not engage with the arts. At secondary school, however, he became interested in drama. His drama teacher was instrumental in supporting his interest, he said.

When he was 15, Shayek had to choose his work experience placement. He successfully secured a placement at a local veterinary surgery, but said he was reluctant. “I’m not really an animal person,” he joked.

Instead, he walked around Stratford and attempted to find a placement elsewhere. By chance, he wandered past the Theatre Royal Stratford East. “I went in, asked what they do and they offered me the chance to do some work experience during the summer holidays,” he said. “I was supposed to go for two weeks, but ended up there for the whole summer.”

From there, he began to engage with local youth theatres and was accepted to the National Youth Theatre. Since then, he has worked with a range of other organisations, including Contact Theatre, the

Royals Shakespeare Company (RSC), the National Theatre and the Almeida.

Shayek’s journey in the arts came by chance – but he is keen that everyone has the opportunity to engage with it, no matter their backgrounds. “Access to the theatre was limited, so that is why it is such a big part of my personal values and ethos that people get access to the arts because it can be life-changing,” he said. “I’m a real example of that. “I’m a believer that we have to make culture accessible to all.”

For more, see: www.tara-arts.com

More For You

JLR-Tata-Getty

JLR had initially planned to manufacture more than 70,000 electric vehicles at the facility. (Photo: Getty Images)

JLR halts plan to build EVs at Tata’s India plant: Report

JAGUAR LAND ROVER (JLR) has put on hold plans to manufacture electric vehicles at Tata Motors’ upcoming £775 million factory in southern India, according to a news report.

The decision was influenced by challenges in balancing price and quality for locally sourced EV components, three of the sources said. They added that slowing demand for electric vehicles was also a factor.

Keep ReadingShow less
budget friendly spring destinations

Lock in affordable trips and avoid inflated prices

iStock

Top 7 budget-friendly spring destinations for 2025

With spring break just around the corner, it's time to lock in affordable trips and avoid inflated prices. Booking three weeks to a month in advance can help secure the best deals. Spring 2025 is shaping up to be a great time for travel, with airfares for international trips down by 3% and hotel rates decreasing by 2%, making it easier than ever to plan a memorable trip without breaking the bank. Here are seven top destinations to explore on a budget this spring.

1. Big Bear, California

Big Bear Lake, CaliforniaiStock

Keep ReadingShow less
Leicester drug supplier Sarju Khushal jailed for 11 years over £2m operation

Sarju Khushal

Leicester drug supplier Sarju Khushal jailed for 11 years over £2m operation

A MAN who supplied controlled drugs on a ‘wholesale’ scale across Leicestershire has been sentenced to 11 years in prison. Sarju Khushal, 30, was arrested in 2022 after investigations revealed he had been transporting drugs from Lancashire into the area.

Khushal, formerly of Hazeldene Road, Leicester, pleaded guilty to several charges, including the supply and conspiracy to supply class A drugs. He was sentenced at Leicester crown court last Thursday (6).

Keep ReadingShow less
Tamil Nadu Education

Tamil, one of the oldest living languages in the world, is a source of pride for the state’s people

Getty images

Education or imposition? Tamil Nadu battles India government over Hindi in schools

A war of words has erupted between Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister MK Stalin and the federal government over the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which recommends a three-language formula in schools, with two of the three being native to India. Stalin has voiced strong objections, claiming that the policy could lead to the imposition of Hindi, a northern Indian language, in non-Hindi-speaking states like Tamil Nadu. The issue has reignited old tensions between southern states and the central government over the privileging of Hindi.

Historical resistance to Hindi

Tamil Nadu has a deep-rooted history of opposing the promotion of Hindi, dating back to the 1960s. Protests broke out in the state when the federal government attempted to make Hindi the sole official language, leading to a compromise that allowed the continued use of English. Language in Tamil Nadu is not merely a means of communication but a powerful symbol of cultural identity. Tamil, one of the oldest living languages in the world, is a source of pride for the state’s people. As a result, any perceived threat to its prominence is met with strong resistance.

Keep ReadingShow less