25th Anniversary Kathakali
Theatre has been used for centuries to transport the audience into the enchanting world of storytelling.
This story was written especially for Kathakali over 300 years ago and has been performed in the village temples of Kerala for centuries.
The demoness Poothana, disguised as a beautiful lady, has been ordered by the evil King Kamsan to kill the baby Lord Krishna. The performance begins as Poothana reaches the village of Ambadi where the divine child is living with his foster parents.
The beauty of the village stuns her and she comments that even a special snake God with a thousand heads could not speak of its beauty enough! She describes the ladies in the village dancing and the beautiful peacocks cleaning their wings and flying. She remembers the reason that she has come to the village and asks, “Where is the child”? Eventually she arrives unknowingly at the home of the baby Lord Krishna and is captivated by his beauty. She cares for him, does not want to kill him, tries to leave but realises that if she fails to kill the baby the evil king will kill her.
Kalamandalam Vijayakumar is a major international Kathakali actor, born in Kerala, southern India and in 1975 trained at the world-famous Kerala Kalamandalam. In 1982 he began touring with the Kerala Kalamandalam Troupe visiting Europe and Scandinavia.
In 1987 Kalamandalam Vijayakumar co-founded the Kala Chethena Kathakali Company with Kathakali makeup specialist, Kalamandalam Barbara Vijayakumar, to establish Kathakali in the UK. Since then, they have toured Kathakali from the Isles of Scilly to the Highlands of Scotland enabling over
275,000 people of all ages, cultural backgrounds, and abilities to access, enjoy and understand Kathakali on a deeper level.
Kalamandalam Vijayakumar is a highly experienced and talented artist who brings Kathakali onto the dramatic stage where human emotion, failure, love, aspiration, fear and greed communicate directly with the audience and the magic of theatre takes place.
KALAMANDALAM BARBARA VIJAYAKUMAR is a visual artist, trained at Rochdale College of Art, Winchester School of Art and in the art of Chutti at the Kerala Kalamandalam, India. Barbara is a highly experienced Kathakali make up specialist and has applied the chutti single handed for over 2,000 full company performances. The performances included major Kathakali artists, including the
legend, Padma Sree Kalamandalam Gopi. Barbara is the co-founder and director of the Kala Chethena Kathakali Company.
Barbara is the first female Kathakali makeup artist and costumer in the world and presents Kathakali in an informative and welcoming way. Both artists work as a team to welcome audiences to Kathakali, establish a greater understanding of Kathakali, and expose the ancient culture from which
Kathakali evolved.
POOTHANA MOKSHAM
by Aswati |Tirunal Tampuran [1756 – 1794]
by Aswati |Tirunal Tampuran [1756 – 1794]
THE KATHAKALI PLAY TO BE PERFORMED
This story was written especially for Kathakali over 300 years ago and has been performed in the village temples of Kerala for centuries.
The demoness Poothana, disguised as a beautiful lady, has been ordered by the evil King Kamsan to kill the baby Lord Krishna. The performance begins as Poothana reaches the village of Ambadi where the divine child is living with his foster parents.
The beauty of the village stuns her and she comments that even a special snake God with a thousand heads could not speak of its beauty enough! She describes the ladies in the village dancing and the beautiful peacocks cleaning their wings and flying. She remembers the reason that she has come to the village and asks, “Where is the child”? Eventually she arrives unknowingly at the home of the baby Lord Krishna and is captivated by his beauty. She cares for him, does not want to kill him, tries to leave but realises that if she fails to kill the baby the evil king will kill her.
The evil and anger in her return, she curses the king for ordering her to do this terrible act, then after locking all the doors and windows she poisons her milk and attempts to kill the baby. Lord Krishna drinks Poothans` milk until there is no more life left in her. Before her death she sees an image of Lord Vishnu in the sky showing that she has finally found salvation through the divine intervention of
Lord Krishna.
Lord Krishna.
Poothan`s pain a reflection of her sad life and how evil manipulated and destroyed her. This sacred story illustrates the importance of the courage required to reject outside pressure to harm others.
BIOGRAPHY
KALAMANDALAM VIJAYAKUMAR – KATHAKALI ACTOR
Kalamandalam Vijayakumar is a major international Kathakali actor, born in Kerala, southern India and in 1975 trained at the world-famous Kerala Kalamandalam. In 1982 he began touring with the Kerala Kalamandalam Troupe visiting Europe and Scandinavia.
In 1987 Kalamandalam Vijayakumar co-founded the Kala Chethena Kathakali Company with Kathakali makeup specialist, Kalamandalam Barbara Vijayakumar, to establish Kathakali in the UK. Since then, they have toured Kathakali from the Isles of Scilly to the Highlands of Scotland enabling over
275,000 people of all ages, cultural backgrounds, and abilities to access, enjoy and understand Kathakali on a deeper level.
Kalamandalam Vijayakumar is a magnificent artist captivating his audience through his sensitive portrayal of the Kathakali female character. Since 1987 he has delivered over 4,000 solo performances, 4,500 workshops and 2,000 full company Kathakali performances and 24 exhibitions.
Kalamandalam Vijayakumar is a highly experienced and talented artist who brings Kathakali onto the dramatic stage where human emotion, failure, love, aspiration, fear and greed communicate directly with the audience and the magic of theatre takes place.
KALAMANDALAM BARBARA VIJAYAKUMAR - KATHAKALI
KALAMANDALAM BARBARA VIJAYAKUMAR is a visual artist, trained at Rochdale College of Art, Winchester School of Art and in the art of Chutti at the Kerala Kalamandalam, India. Barbara is a highly experienced Kathakali make up specialist and has applied the chutti single handed for over 2,000 full company performances. The performances included major Kathakali artists, including the
legend, Padma Sree Kalamandalam Gopi. Barbara is the co-founder and director of the Kala Chethena Kathakali Company.
Barbara is the first female Kathakali makeup artist and costumer in the world and presents Kathakali in an informative and welcoming way. Both artists work as a team to welcome audiences to Kathakali, establish a greater understanding of Kathakali, and expose the ancient culture from which
Kathakali evolved.
Tickets
Date: Monday 3rd November 2025
Time: 6pm
Tickets: £10