Across the Black Waters at the National Archives – Poster

Series nameProductions: Across the Black Waters
Description

In November 2003, Mán Melá presented a commemorative performance of an extract of ‘Across the Black Waters’, the 1935 major novel by Mulk Raj Anand. The performance took place at The National Archives, Kew and also featured readings of letters sent home by Indian soldiers on the Western Front. This A4 poster of the event depicts uniformed Indian soldiers from the Punjab, seated and standing in the trenches.

Date of Creation / Publication2003
CreatorMán Melá Theatre Company
Associated Person/ OrganisationRai, Dominic
LocationPunjab
Collection and Reference NumberMán Melá Theatre Company Collection (GB 2661 MM)
Catalogue NumberMM/PRO/AB/7
CopyrightThe Creator and/ or the associated person or organisation where applicable.
Access to originalsThe originals are located at SADAA
Series notesAcross Black Waters, a play adapted by Mán Melá from the novel by Mulk Raj Anand, depicts the struggles and aspirations of an Indian soldier in the trenches of the Western Front. More than one million soldiers fought in the First World War and over 62,000 died. Mán Melá’s adaptation of the novel by Dominic Rai and Gerald Wells, included music by composed by Baluji Shrivastav. The play itself and extracts of it toured the UK between 1998 and 2003 at various venues including the National Army Museum. The digitised items in this file include production programmes and leaflets, which provide historical details and information.
Collection notesThe Mán Melá Theatre Company Collection consists of digitised material pertaining to Mán Melá’s productions and its audience and project development work since 1993. The items include production and workshop photographs, flyers and information-based programmes.