REVIEW: Songs of the Bulbul
- Natasha Dyson
- Feb 4
- 2 min read
“Freedom found only in the ultimate release.”
The Aakash Odedra Company’s Songs of the Bulbul provides a captivating cultural exchange of Sufi myth in all respects.
Playing a limited season at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Playhouse, the solo dance piece follows the legend of the Bulbul (or nightingale) from its caged existence towards enlightenment. Blending intricate staging, expressive Kathak dance and poetic score, Songs of the Bulbul invites audiences to consider the fleeting nature of birdsong, of art, and of life.
At the outset of the show an aural introduction to the myth clarified the acts of the Bulbul’s pursuit of the divine, linking the story to an artist’s sacrifice with each performance. This solidified the international accessibility of the production, familiarising us but still allowing our audience the space to interpret and understand the main body of work for ourselves.
Each production element of this piece carefully considers the story as a whole, never pulling focus from the narrative intention. The central focus is certainly Aakash Odedra’s masterful, intricate movement, bringing the characterisation of the Bulbul to life through Rani Khanam’s thoughtful choreography. This show marked my introduction to Kathak dance, and I marvelled at both the unabashed release of Sufi whirling and the unrivalled specificity of Odedra’s finger and head movements. Every beat of Rushil Ranjan’s transcendent score was intimately known and expressed through dance.
Ranjan’s score unifies traditional Indian music with Western orchestral instrumentation, taking the audience on the Bulbul’s journey by utilising poetry, expansive soundscapes and silence. I found that although I had no prior sentimental ties to the Sufi myth, hearing the creative team’s incorporation of their home in the UK withdrew any sensation of separation from the piece. It is a modern retelling, rooted in spirituality and devotion but welcome to everyone.
The dynamic use of time in this piece was perfected by the visual production elements. Kanika Thakur’s costume and Emanuele Salamanca’s set deeply considered the ethereal nature of the bird’s movement. An iridescent veil and Odedra’s skirt became wings, windswept rose petals became the object of the Bulbul’s song. Fabiana Piccioli’s exciting lighting design set the emotional stakes in moments of tumult. Combined, this show visually distorted time, creating an otherworldly experience worthy of its international renown.
Songs of the Bulbul is a unique piece of theatre that knows exactly what it is setting out to achieve, and achieves it both technically and creatively. Beauty is woven into the very fabric of this show by a team dedicated to presenting both the sacred and the deeply human.
This bittersweet birdsong is not to be missed.
Only on until 7th February, for tickets click here
