Storytelling from Bangladesh: Palagan and Patuagan presented in association with the Crick Crack Club Palagan is a one-man theatrical tour de force in which a storyteller performs an epic tale - with help from a group of musicans and singers. In Bangladesh this sometimes takes place over six or seven hours without a break. Through song, dance, mime and narration the performer weaves a fabulous story, full of fantasy, humour and intrigue. Islamuddin Palakar is the leading star amongst the new generation of Palagan performers and the energy with which he races and dances through the story is astonishing. During the course of a single show he plays all the roles, switching from one character to another in quick succession. Princes, princesses, the princes' mother, the king of the underworld, seven brothers and several hundred fairies are but a few from the cast of thousands he creates before our eyes. Patuagan is the ancient art of telling a story from a painted scroll. From as far back as the 2nd century BC, scrolls were painted on cloth and designed in panels, each depicting an episode from the story or a particular character. The storyteller would hang the scroll in the performing area and begin, pointing to the various panels as the tale progressed. Across the centuries scrolls have been used to depict episodes from the great Vedic, Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim epics but now however the art has all but died out. Durjan Ali Miah and Nur Hussain Miah, from the Narshindi district near Dhaka, are amongst the last custodians of the Patuagan art. Their speciality is the story of Ghazi, a 15th century Muslim general who became a saint, and is believed to have performed many miracles including bringing dead trees back to life. Islamuddin Palakar, Durjan Ali Miah and Nur Hussain Miah will perform the stories in Bengali, with British storyteller Daniel Morden, from the ever popular Crick Crack Club, narrating them in English. Talks and educational events on storytelling and scroll paintings. Palagan and Patuagan performances can be seen on tour at the Beyond the Border Literature Festival. Call 01146 794 848 for tour details. MORE

Photo: Syed Badrul Karim/ Drik Palagan and Patuagan Double Bill: Tues 13 July at 7.30pm Studio Theatre, North Westminster, North Wharf Road, London W2 Tube: Edgware Road Tickets: £6 (£4 concessions, Westminster Rescard) Box Office: 0171 641 8424 Fri 16 July at 8.00pm Watermans Arts Centre, 40 High Street, Brentford TW8 Tube: Gunnersbury / South Ealing Tickets: £8 (£6 concessions) Box Office: 0181 568 1176