DHABI'S STORY: A TALE FROM THE TIME OF TRUTH Dhabi's Story - A Tale from the Time of Truth is based on an original Chakma folk tale, Dhabi Kabi, from the Hill Tracts of south-eastern Bangladesh. Chakma people are one of thirteen communities that together make up the indigenous Jumma people of the Hill Tracts. Jumma people, although they are Bangladeshi, have their own languages and culture, which were suppressed from 1974 until 1998 with the recent signing of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Agreement. Every Jumma song, poem, story and painting is a way to keep the culture alive and give the people hope for a time of peace as well as truth. Dhabi Kabi is the story of a young girl whose mother is taken from her and is then mistreated by a wicked stepmother intent on getting rid of her. With the blessing of her own mother, Dhabi's strength and creativity are rewarded - she survives! Dhabi Kabi shows us a glimpse of Bangladeshi Jumma culture, rich in history and looking forward to a brighter future. Dhabi's Story was developed, made, composed, choreographed and rehearsed in workshops. The professional team's job has been to provoke ideas, shape the results, and fit the jigsaw puzzle of all the various contributions together. We hope you enjoy the show. Stephen Langridge - Director	Director: Stephen Langridge Musical Director: Howard Moody Designer: Keith Khan Choreographer: Gauri Sharma Tripathi With: St Paul's Way Community School St Matthias Church of England School Stepney Green Secondary School for Boys Sir William Burrough Primary School Thomas Buxton Junior School
Dhabi's story: A Tale from the time of truth 1. Introduction - St Paul's Way Community School 'This is a tale from the time of truth When what you say comes true...' 2. An Argument, a Turtle, and a Wedding - St Matthias CE Primary School A man and a woman argue while Dhabi, their daughter looks on. At the height of the row the man shouts 'Dhur!'. In Chakma that means two things: 'be quiet', and "turtle". Now because it is the time of truth Dhabi's mother is not only quiet, but she also turns into a turtle, and swims away down the river. Dhabi, who saw what happened, goes to a special place by the river every evening and sings with the turtle. 'What happened to you...' Dhabi's father is lonely without his wife. He decides to remarry. The stepmother arrives in the village with her daughter, Khabi. 3. Jealousy - Stepney Green Secondary School for Boys The stepmother is jealous of Dhabi and the turtle - so she decides to kill the turtle by boiling it. But the turtle sings from the pot: "Budya madda hem Barri madda hem..." (I'll have the old man's head I'll have the old woman's head...) The stepmother can't bear these accusations so she throws the turtle out of the window. Magically, as it hits the ground, the turtle transforms into a gourd plant which grows up the side of the house. 4. A Weaving Lesson - Sir William Burrough Primary School The stepmother refuses to show Dhabi how to weave - she only teaches Khabi. The gourd grows in through the window and sings a magic song in Dhabi's ear: 'Bizur phele, bizur tul Begun bizi, phulu tul...' (One stitch up, one stiTch down Now you've done the brinjal stitch...) Dhabi finds she can weave beautifully. The stepmother spots what's going on, takes an axe and chops down the gourd plant. Fortunately, however, before the gourd falls, a bird alights at the top of the plant, takes a seed and flies off. ' The multi-coloured bird...' The bird lets the seed fall in the middle of the forest, and where it lands a huge banyan tree grows. 5. Tiger's Milk - Thomas Buxton Junior School The stepmother wants to get rid of Dhabi once and for all. She pretends to be very ill and says that the doctor has told her that the only thing that can cure her is tiger's milk. She sends Dhabi to fetch it. Dhabi runs to the banyan tree to ask for advice. 'Amma, my step mother says...' The tree tells Dhabi that if she is polite and respectful when she speaks to the tiger no harm will come to her. Dhabi follows the tree's advice, and the tiger is so pleased to meet a human who is neither terrified, nor trying to kill her that she not only gives Dhabi the milk, but also some beautiful jewellery. Dhabi tries on the jewels and dances beneath the tree. While she is dancing a prince passes by. Immediately he falls for Dhabi, but dare not approach for fear of the tiger. He vows he will find her when she is not amongst wild animals! Dhabi can't wear the jewels home so the tree opens up, and Dhabi places them for safe-keeping in the tree's heart. The stepmother is furious to see Dhabi again. She kicks over the milk, and puts her to work in the kitchen. The Prince searches everywhere. Finally he arrives at Dhabi's house. The step mother offers him Khabi - but though she is tired and dishevelled after her chores he only has eyes for Dhabi.	Festival Director/Producer: Anne Hunt PRODUCTION TEAM Director: Stephen Langridge Musical Director: Howard Moody Designer: Keith Khan Choreographer: Gauri Sharma Tripathi Assistant Director/Stage Manager: Ann Ogbomo Costume Supervisor: Sarah Bowern Production Manager: Shaun Tracey Story told by: Joyoti Grech Music Workshop Leaders: Marcina Arnold (Sir William Burrough Primary School & St Matthias CE School), Jan Hendrickse (Thomas Buxton Junior School), Michael Osborn (Stepney Green School for Boys & St Paul's Way Community School) BAND Voice: Marcina Arnold Flute: Jan Hendrickse Percussion: Michael Osborn Guitar: Victor Unukovsky Tabla: Shiv Shankar Sound: Orbital Storytelling Workshop Leaders: Joyoti Grech, Rezaul Kabir Design Workshop Leader: Tajender Sagoo (Bethnal Green Technology College & Christ Church Primary School) Props made by: Graham Gilmore Costumes made by: Heba Women's Project Instruments for the 'magic music' made by: Simon Allen Father designed by: Mothluba Tiger designed by: Jahedur & Ruksana Udin Stepmother designed by: R Islam, Lila Banu and Rasheeda Miah Khabi designed by: Lila Banu Production Manager (opening celebrations): Dixie Site Manager: Tony Kavanagh Sound Engineer: Simon Whitehorn Production Assistant: Gemma Fletcher Community Events Co-ordinator: Razia Newaz Shariff Assistant Community Events Co-ordinator: Kazi Ruksana BegumCommunity Events Team: Sania Choudhury, Hanea Khan, Sheikh Khairun Nessa, Tipu Shamsu Uddin Programme edited by: Eleanor Jupp Design & Print: Spiderweb Publicity: Marie Clements 0171 359 9389
CAST LIST ST PAUL'S WAY COMMUNITY SCHOOL Musicians: Nasar Ahmed (drums), Issac Baptiste (drums), Atiqul Hoque (congas), Ali Hussain (piano), Georga Makin (piano), Shelim Md. Miah (bass) Singer/Narrators: Nasima Begum, Shetera Begum, Swapna Begum, Shabana Khanom, Md. Anhar Miah Azad Miah, Hira Miah Puppeteers: Asab Ali (stepmother), David Graham (stepmother), Robiul Hussain (stepmother), Razibul Islam (stepmother), Abdul Moshahed (stepmother), Georga Makin (mother) Teacher: Tim Rossell Headteacher: Martyn Coles ST MATTHIAS CE PRIMARY SCHOOL Singers/Dancers: Peter Albert, Joshua Barzey, Amina Begum, Sonia Cichocka (Mother), Leah Clouston, Jake Corsinie, Mahboobe Ellahee, Ayo Filani (Father), Dean Hoadley (Turtle Operator), Aynol Hoque, Salma Khanom, Almina Kuthum (Dhabi), Kevin Marney, Jabil Miah, Jamil Miah, Moznu Miah, Ida Ofori, Can Ozkutan, Al-fee Plebanowicz, Hannah Robertson, Georgina Thorpe Teachers: Lucy Lucy & Jeanette Stott Headteacher: Clare Sealy STEPNEY GREEN SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR BOYS Dancers: Mizan Hamed, Shihab Ahmed, Mohammed Alamin, Husson Ali, Abu Alkabah, Kabal Ali Alomgir, Amjad Hussain, Jahongir Hussain, Kowshar Hussain, Mazammal Husain, Nazmul Husssain, Koyrul Islam, Shah Mashud, Dilchad Miah, Serdah Ogus, Fokrul Rahman, Hafizur Rahman, Moshinul Rouf, Sadiekur Rahman, Shaidur Rahman, Azimuz Zaman Musicians: Pharveze Abdul (drumsticks), Jakir Ahmed (keyboard player), Kabil Ahmed (drumsticks), Hasan Ali (drummer), Kaubar Ali, Shafique Ali (broomsticks), Hasnatul Alom (broomsticks), Joynul Hussain, Muthabbir Hussain (broomsticks), Jahidul Islam (broomsticks and drumsticks), Shah Jahan (broomsticks), Abdul Hussain Khalisader (keyboard player), Ashanul Khan (conductor), Sabir Miah (broomsticks), Shahin Miah (drumsticks), Alan Noore Mujin, Muhinir Rahman (broomsticks), Shahbur Rahman (keyboard player), Abdul Samad (drumsticks) SIR WILLIAM BURROUGH PRIMARY SCHOOL Singers/Dancers: Sohid Md. Abdul (Khabi Operator), Fatah Ahmed, Imran Ali (Axe), Kausur Ali, Leah Barker, Parbina Begum, Salma Begum, Chelsey Brown, Abdul Aleem Choudhury, Anamul Hussain, Dielwaar Hussain (Axe), Saidil Hussain, Yusuf Imran Khan, Nejam Khan, Fahima Khanom, Shajna Khatun, Daniel Neville (Bird), Jhamil Uddin, Masudur Rahman, Raizur Rahman (Axe), Saydur Rahman, Shajeeah Rahman, Ayesha Siddika (Dhabi), Franky Tansley, Scott Warren, Van Huy Pham Teachers: Roushan Israil & Simon Speare Headteacher: Avril Newman	THOMAS BUXTON JUNIOR SCHOOL Singers/Dancers: Shuheb Ahmed, Bobby Ahmed (Banyan Tree), Nurjin Akhter (Banyan Tree), Shelley Akter (Dhabi), Ferdousy Akthar, Yousuf Ali (Prince), Aysha Begum, Bokara Begum, Fateha Begum, Hasna Begum, Husna Begum (Tiger), Monowara Begum, Repha Begum (Tiger), Milly Chowdhury (Banyan Tree), Yahya Gulam, Shahanaz Hanif (Banyan Tree), Shemol Haque (Banyan Tree), Sayed Islam, Ruhul Islam, Faruk Islam (Banyan Tree), Shumon Kamaruzzaman, Abdul Khalad, Rajna Khanom, Jenny Khantun, Jameel Mahboob, Dulal Miah, Abu Saqib, Jalal Uddin Musicians: Munna Ahmed Ali, Foysal Ahmed, Marwa Ahmed, Zakir Ahmed, Abdul Hoque Ali, Badrul Ali, Sumna Begum, Fateha Begum, Halima Begum, Rukeya Begum, Lima Begum, Sufia Begum, Farhana Chowdhury, Awlia Gulam, Ashraf Hussain, Nasir Hussain, Syeda Khanom, Mothluba Khatun, Sumaiya Mehter, Khalid Miah, Sara Miah, Sazon Miah, Abdul Momin, Sofna Noor , Oliur Rahman, Abdul Salam, Shuhag Yahya, Jamaly Yasmin Teachers: Neela Momen & Michelle Morris Headteacher: Suki Sharples CHRIST CHURCH PRIMARY SCHOOL Design Workshop Participants: (Wedding Shawls) Khalid Ahmed, Taif Ahmed, Aktar Ali, Fareda Begum, Suhena Begum, Fabne Edikabenge-Shungu, Athwal Goni, Suhel Hassan, Askor Khan, Shununa Khanom, Ouzufa Khatun, Hafiz Miah, Amirun Nessa, Jahedur Rahman, Shahidur Rahman, Abdul Ruhal, Aysha Siddiqa, Zahir Sultan Teacher: Jo Nettle Headteacher: Jeanette Waller BETHNAL GREEN TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE Design Workshop Participants: (Villagers & Weaving Fabric) Emma Albert, Forena Akhtar, Asia Begum, Ferdouse Begum, Luthfa Begum, Momina Begum, Nadira Begum,Shaheena Begum, Shebii Begum, Sultana Begum, Sultana Begum, Fatima Bibi, Reba Khatun, Nana Konadu, Gemma Lester, Naleen Morris Charmain Noble, Emma Okafor, Amina Rashid, Sadaf Sattar, Sharmell, Juliana Slawson, Sula Slawson, Kelly Wale Jalil Abdul, Abdul Ali, Feduz Ali, Kashem Ahmed, Saiful Ahmed, Saiful Ahmed, Shuez Ahmed, Yusuf Arsan, Goknan Bacek, Kunle Ba kare, Shozul Enanamul, Darren Foster, Sujon Gulam-Subhani, Anamul Haque, Nazrul Hassan, Jackirul Islam, Sajul Islam, Valy Kianunce, Jalal Kobir, Sylvester Kuczko, Richard Ley, Saddak Miah, Shah Md, Ruben Parcy, Aklasur Rahman, Dilaur Rahman, Shaifur Rahman, Duharul Shah, Subhani Sujon Mark Teece, Kubad Uddin, Momin Ullah, Noor Uddin, Qummer Zaman, Teachers: Tim Daley & Robert Somerville Headteacher: Allen Wadsworth BACK