Patrick Studio at Birmingham Hippodrome – until 10th April 2025
Reviewed by Emma Millward
5*****
The award-winning Aakash Odedra Company, based in Leicester, UK, is dedicated to showcasing classical and contemporary South Asian dance styles. The company, in association with Manchester Camerata, premiered its UK tour of ‘Songs of the Bulbul’ within the intimate setting of Birmingham Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio.
In Persian culture, the Nightingale or ‘Bulbul’ has a special significance. They believe the Bulbul has a special connection with roses and when it sings, its singing is directed at the roses. The dance depicts a captive Bulbul, often given to royalty as a priceless gift. The dance follows the stages that the Bulbul goes through leading up to his death. From being kept in the light of a cage, to being kept in a darkened room, to losing his sight towards the end of his life. The myth states that when it reaches this final point, the Bulbul sings its most beautiful and melodious song.
As we entered the auditorium, we were greeted by an array of candles forming a semicircle on the stage area, surrounding a vast number of red rose petals. As the lights dim, Aakash Odedra takes his place in the middle of the stage. Completely covered with his white feathered robes that represent the Bulbul. His movements are slow at first, before building up and up. Every little movement was purposeful and on the beat of the beautiful orchestral music that filled the auditorium. Birmingham-born Odedra takes us on a spell-binding journey through this story. He is the only dancer onstage, but the candles and the vibrant red rose petals become almost another participant in the dance. As Aakash’s white robes swish around him, the rose petals twirl and fly around him. It’s quite a sight to behold.
This new dance work, choreographed by Rani Khanam and set to music by Rushil Ranjan, lasts 55 minutes, and I can honestly say every person in the 200-capacity Patrick Studio was captivated from start to finish. In the quieter sections, where there was often no music playing, it’s almost like the audience held their breath. Although this is a solo piece onstage, this is achieved in collaboration with many talented artists behind the scenes. The otherworldly lighting by Fabiana Piccioli and the simple, but clever set design by Emanuele Salamanca both add to the dream-like feel of the production. Rushil Ranjan’s score was recorded by the orchestra of the Manchester Camerata, with the haunting vocals of Abi Sampa and Sarthak Kalyani, and additional instrumentation by Janan Sathiendran and Praveen Prathapan. At the Lowry in Salford on May 6th, 2025, the score will be brought to life through live performances by this same orchestra and singers in a special performance.
Songs of the Bulbul made its world premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival last year, receiving many 4 and 5-star reviews and being crowned Edinburgh International Festival’s Best Show by The List. I am confident that this spine-tingling and visceral work will continue to captivate audiences and gather even more accolades as it continues its UK tour.