Full line-up of Southbank's Alchemy festival announced

The full line up for Alchemy, the Southbank Centre's festival of south Asian culture has been announced.

Running throughout May, the festival features dance, theatre, visual art, talks and literature events and showcases work from seven countries including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and the UK.

One of the highlights includes the only opera by legendary musician Ravi Shankar, directed by Leicester Curve associate Suba Das. Sukanya is a collaboration between The Royal Opera, the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Curve.

Alchemy will feature the London premiere of No Dogs, No Indians, a new play by poet and playwright Siddhartha Bose which follows three stories and legacies of the British in India. Other theatre includes Afreena Islam’s Daughters of the Curry Revolution performed round a table for an intimate audience.

Included in the dance line-up is a performance from Indian classical dance company Nrityagram Dance Ensemble which performs its first international collaboration Saṃhära with the Chitrasena Dance Company.

Another dance performance takes place on the roof of the Royal Festival Hall. Conditions of Carriage is staged by The Jumping Project and is a dance experience choreographed by Preethi Athreya and danced by ten dancers.

Alchemy runs for 11 days between 19 and 29 May. The festival also tours to Oldham (10 to 18 May), the Black Country (20 to 28 May), and Doncaster (31 May to 3 June).