THE Kala Chethana Kathakali Company from Kerala, South India, are celebrating 21 years of bringing Kathakali to the world, and Span Arts is proud to welcome them back to perform at the Queen's Hall, Narberth, on Thursday, November 20.
Kathakali - meaning 'story play' - embraces drama, dance, music, visual arts and ritual to create one of the world's most exotic, visually exciting, and powerful forms of theatre.
Colourful costumes and elaborate three-dimensional make-up magically transform the actors, singers and drummers into gods, kings, devils and princesses, allowing them to tell universal stories of the struggle between good and evil through gesture, emotion and expression.
Kathakali originated in the temples of Kerala, South India, over 500 years ago, and most of the characters and stories are derived from Hindu epics.
There will be an opportunity for artists to see the make-up applied and draw the elaborate and colourful costumes from 3.30 pm.
Tickets, priced, £10 are available from Span Arts, 01834 869323, http://www.span-arts.org.uk">www.span-arts.org.uk.