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LATE AT THE LIBRARY - The Ramayana: Love and Valour in India's Great Epic

23 May 2008

Thursday 5 June 19:00-23:00
British Library
Presented in association with BBC Asian Network
Part of the Lates festival www.lates.org

On 5 June 2008, the British Library presents an open house evening inspired by summer exhibition The Ramayana: Love and Valour in India’s Great Epic, in association with BBC Asian Network.

The event will feature live music from the best of British/South Asian artists including:

  • Composer and virtuoso tabla player Kuljit Bhamra with his trio, performing a special set inspired by the Battle of Lanka and other episodes from the Ramayana www.kuljitbhamra.com
  • Powerful electro band Swami
    www.myspace.com/swamimusic
  • Top BBC Asian Network DJs Bobby Friction and Nerm with their East meets West dancefloor sound
  • Students from the Bhavan Centre London with a Ramayana based dance performance.

Also on offer will be film screenings, bars and late access to four British Library exhibitions including major exhibition The Ramayana: Love and Valour in India’s Great Epic (16 May – 14 September 2008).

Late at the Library is part of a series of events tying in with the British Library exhibition, The Ramayana: Love and Valour in India’s Great Epic (16 May – 14 September 2008). Over 100 paintings from the British Library’s lavishly illustrated 17th century manuscripts of the story from the volumes of Rana Jagat Singh of Mewar (1628-1652) are displayed for the first time and brought vividly to life in a stunning exhibition design by Tara Arts. The exhibition is free and open every day. Other upcoming events include a four day marathon screening of Ramanand Sagar’s 78-episode Ramayan, one of the great phenomena of global television history, which drew world-record audiences of over 100 million (12 – 15 June), a ‘Big Bollywood Dance Class’ on the Library Piazza (8 July), acrobatic Chhau (10-14 July) and Kathakali (7 September) dance performances, talks and film screenings. www.bl.uk/ramayana

For press information, images or interviews, please contact Ruth Howlett at the British Library Press Office: +44 (0)20 7412 7112 or ruth.howlett@bl.uk

Booking Information

Late at the Library takes place on Thursday 5 June, 19.00-23.00 at the British Library, 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB. Price £5.00. Tickets can be booked by calling +44 (0)1937 546 546, online at http://boxoffice.bl.uk or in person at the Information Desk. Advance booking is strongly recommended.

Notes to Editors

Late at the Library is part of a series of public events tying in with the British Library exhibition, The Ramayana: Love and Valour in India’s Great Epic (16 May – 14 September 2008). Other upcoming events include a four day marathon screening of Ramanand Sagar’s 78-episode Ramayan, one of the great phenomena of global television history, which drew world-record audiences of over 100 million (12 – 15 June), a ‘Big Bollywood Dance Class’ on the Library Piazza (8 July), traditional Chhau (10 July) and Kathakali (7 September) dance performances, talks and film screenings. For more information about the exhibition or related events, visit www.bl.uk/ramayana

The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom and one of the world's greatest research libraries. It provides world class information services to the academic, business, research and scientific communities and offers unparalleled access to the world's largest and most comprehensive research collection. The Library's collection has developed over 250 years and exceeds 150 million separate items representing every age of written civilisation. It includes: books, journals, manuscripts, maps, stamps, music, patents, newspapers and sound recordings in all written and spoken languages. www.bl.uk

Lates is an ongoing festival presented by the Mayor of London celebrating London's dynamic cultural scene and highlighting the increasingly important contribution the city's arts organisations make to the late night economy and social scene. Working in partnership with the capital's major arts organisations, Lates promotes and curates evening and late night events aimed primarily at a 20 to 35 year old audience. All Lates events are inspired by the presenting organisations' collections, exhibitions and work. Lates events are promoted year round with the major Lates festival taking place in June. For more details go to www.lates.org