A festival of performance and events throughout autumn and winter 2011–2012

This autumn the National Maritime Museum delves into the fascinating story of the East India Company, and looks at the mark this extraordinary company has left on modern Britain and around the world.

A new gallery, Traders: the East India Company and Asia, opens on 28 September 2011 showcasing the Museum’s world-famous collection of objects relating to Asia and the Indian Ocean. Starting in October and running until February 2012 Traders Unpacked, sponsored by Sharwood’s, is a wide-ranging festival of music, film, fashion, debate and spoken word which explores the complex legacy of one of history’s most remarkable and controversial companies.

Traders Unpacked brings together leading writers, artists and academics from around the world including Man Booker-nominated author Amitav Ghosh, Forward Prize-winning poet Daljit Nagra, the Guardian’s Aditya Chakrabortty, Moushumi Bhowmik and her Anglo Bengali band Parapar, the BBC’s Razia Iqbal and the Traders Unpacked official storyteller-in-residence Seema Anand.

The festival kicks off with A Londoner’s Guide to the East India Company, bringing together high tea, fashion shows and impassioned debate. It continues with regular film screenings, unique international tea parties, cerebral curry and a pint nights, and talks on topics from the Opium Wars to Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe. There’s the chance to get unprecedented access to objects from the Museum’s collections in the highly popular Behind the Scenes sessions, an eclectic evening of Japanese psychedelia, Singaporean deep house and sea shanties with Noise of Art; a night of nautical games for grown-ups from Hide&Seek; and poetry, performance and tongue-in-cheek Chinoiserie with Anna Chen. All this, plus special celebrations for Diwali and Chinese New Year and the opportunity to discover how you might be intimately related to the story of the East India Company.

Full festival programme

Opening Event

A Londoner’s guide to the East India Company

Sunday 2 October, 11.00–17.00 | FREE

The Company established London’s commercial stature and influenced its place names, memorials, language, fashions, ethnic mix and culinary traditions. But would you be able to spot its mark on the City today? Join us for an immersive one-day crash-course of talks, screenings, walks and performance.

• Take an historical walk around the company’s London landmarks
• Enjoy high tea in a re-created luxurious 18th-century London tea room
• Indulge your inner dandy during a live ‘empire line’ fashion shoot with London stylist and photographer, Gavin Fernandes
• Debate the motion: ‘This house believes the Clive of India statue should be removed from Whitehall’

Lates

Noise of Art

Thursday 6 October, 18.30–22.00 | FREE

DJ Ben Osbourne of the Noise of Art collective takes inspiration from unexpected urban forms unleashed by early travels through Eastern sea routes. A clash of club culture, music and contemporary arts, with DJ Ritu of Asian club night Kali, surround projections, deep house from Singaporean act Portfolio, contemporary dance troops and Japanese psychedelia, plus The City Sea Shanty Band, audio-visual installations by Jason Singh and video portraits of the first Chinese film star, Anna Mae Wong. Also featuring a unique post-colonial pub quiz hosted by artist and quiz mistress Yara El-Sherbini in our very own pop-up pub.

The Traders’ Sandpit

Thursday 13 October, 18.30–21.30 | £5

An evening of nautical-themed games for grown-ups, curated by Hide&Seek. If you've ever wanted to sip tea over parlour games, wander the galleries trading herbs and spices with rival merchants, or run around dodging the enforcers of the East India Company, then this is the night for you. Hide&Seek have commissioned brand-new games from artists, designers and theatre-makers, which will be running alongside traditional Indian, Chinese and sailors’ games. Whether you fancy something quiet and cerebral or fun and frantic there’s something for you.

'Traders Unpacked' at London Jazz Festival

Wednesday 16 November, 18.30–21.30 | FREE

Iconoclastic clarinettist Arun Ghosh headlines this evening of eclectic live music reflecting the rhythms of the Asian maritime world. Sweet melodies give birth to soaring improvisations and raag explorations, driven by an exhilarating mix of dub-reggae bass, tabla trickery and ferocious drum explosions. Also featuring Moushumi Bhowmik and her Anglo Bengali band Parapar (Shore to Shore) with their unique mix of Bengali folk, blues, and Indian and Western classical music. In association with BBC Radio 3.

Anna Chen Presents 'Traders'

Thursday 16 February, 18.30–22.00 | FREE

Writer, performer and professional provocateur Anna Chen welcomes you to a spectacular evening of poetry, performance and tongue-in-cheek Chinoiserie. The Opium Wars of the 19th century take centre-stage in a satirical extravaganza of poetry, performance and off-kilter tea-ceremonies. Farrago Poetry Slam maestro, John-Paul ‘Lord Macartney’ O'Neill goes head to head with Hi ‘Governor General Lin Zexu’ Ching.

Curry and a Pint Nights

14 October, 28 October, 25 November, 19.30–21.30 | £25

Discover the origins of the ‘Great British curry’; the story behind India Pale Ale and how the East India Company changed the eating and drinking habits of a nation. An evening of masala, manuscripts and migrations that is guaranteed to stimulate the imagination and the taste buds. Speaking on this series of unique learning and dining events will be historian Rozina Visram, author of Curry: the Story of the Nation’s Favourite Dish, Shrabani Basu, and the beer writer and convivial raconteur, Peter Haydon. Ticket price includes a delicious Indian meal and a pint of India Pale Ale.

Orangery Tea Parties

Over 150 million cups of tea are drunk in Britain every day. But what is the real story of this quintessentially British addiction and what do you think about when enjoying a cuppa? Join artist Sadia Ur-Rehman, local residents, museum staff and volunteers for a tea party experience with a twist in the beautiful surroundings of the Queen’s House. Free, but advance booking is necessary.

English Tea Party: Sunday 2 October, 14.30–16.00
Persian Tea Party: Sunday 16 October, 14.30–16.00
Indian Tea Party: Sunday 20 November, 14.30–16.00
Chinese Tea Party: Sunday 19 February, 14.30–16.00

Evening Talks and Debates

Tall Tales of the Monsoon Trade

Wednesday 12 October, 18.30–20.30 | £8

Are you sitting comfortably? Then let us tell you a story. The Traders Unpacked official storyteller-in-residence Seema Anand will be joined by authors and poets spinning beguiling yarns. From Tipu Sultan’s tiger toy to the maritime expeditions of the Company, this event will be filled with thrilling tales, many untold. Featuring poet Daljit Nagra (author of Tippoo Sultan’s Incredible White-Man-Eating Tiger Toy Machine!!!), and Robert Blyth (co-author of Monsoon Traders). In association with the DSC South Asian Literature Festival.

'The Corporation that Changed the World ': What can we learn from the East India Company for Today's Business Practices?

Tuesday 15th November, 18.30–20.00 | £8

The English East India Company has been described as the 'mother of the modern multinational'. During its 270-year existence, the company’s rise and fall exemplified many of the critical issues facing modern business: ensuring ethical conduct across a global network, confronting financial speculation and corruption, as well as how to deliver private benefits while protecting the public interest. This panel will tackle the relevance of the Company's corporate legacy, and ask what we can really learn for today's business practices. Panellists include Nick Robins, author of The Corporation that Changed the World, Jon Wilson, author of The Domination of Strangers: Modern Governance in Eastern India, 1780–1835 and Ben Yeoh, investment analyst and playwright. Chaired by The Guardian's economics leader writer, Aditya Chakrabortty.

When China ruled the waves? The Maritime Cultures of Asia in Context

Wednesday 15 February, 18.30–20.00 | £8

Since the 2002 publication of 1421: the Year China Discovered the World by Gavin Menzies, fierce arguments have raged over his controversial theory that vast fleets of Chinese adventurers beat Christopher Columbus to the Americas, and mapped the world centuries before the European explorers. In this discussion, a range of speakers, including Menzies himself, explore the different maritime cultures of Asia.

Diwali Celebrations

Diwali at the National Maritime Museum

Saturday 12 November, 11.00–18.00 | FREE

A family-friendly day of celebrations to mark the Hindu festival of Lights and British maritime connections with India, culminating in a lantern-lit outdoor procession in Greenwich Park by Emergency Exit Arts, and live music from Parapar. The day includes:

• Film Screening of Today’s Special – a feel-good comedy about a young chef
• Drop-in gallery performances by John Morgan the Asian seaman with Tara Arts
• Lantern-making and Rangoli workshops
• A ‘Scratch-and-Sniff’ history of the East India Company with Sharwood’s chefs and professional herbalists
• Presentation of archival footage of voyages and river craft from India, accompanied by sound tracks designed by Kolkata-based folk music archive, The Travelling Archive
• Drop-in gallery talks including ‘Tipu Sultan’ and ‘The Spice Trade’

Diwali under the Stars

Thursday 17 November, 18.30 | £20

Ever heard the story of Rama and Sita under the magic of the night sky, gazing at stars, watching the heavens revolve? Join astronomers and Traders Unpacked’s very own storyteller-in-residence, Seema Anand, for this exclusive evening in London’s only public planetarium.

Chinese New Year

Saturday 18 February, 11.00–18.00 | FREE

A celebration of Chinese New Year with a range of activities for all the family, culminating in a spectacular outdoor procession by River Cultures.

• Flag-making workshop celebrating the Year of the Dragon inspired by the Imperial Chinese flag on display in the Traders gallery
• Workshop on tea cups and tea-pots exploring Britain's obsession with tea
• Drop-in gallery performance by Chinese seaman James Robson with Yellow Earth Theatre
• Film screening The Chinese Feast, a family comedy about a cooking contest

Traders Unpacked Film Season

A season of Friday night films programmed by Cary Rajinder Sawhney, these films explore the intense human dramas that unfold against the backdrop of war and empire. The films range historically from the First War of Indian Independence, with Junoon, and the East India Company’s drug trade in China in The Opium War; to India’s independence with Gandhi. Screenings will be introduced by guest speakers, including The Daily Telegraph’s film critic, Sukhdev Sandhu, writer and editor, Ian Jack, Cary Rajinder Sawhney and Anna Chen.

Junoon (The Obsession)

(Shyam Benegal, India, 1978) | 14 October, 19.00 | £7 per film / £30 for the season

A classic of Indian New Wave cinema with an all-star cast, Junoon is a story about 1857. Anglo-Indian Ruth escapes with her British mother from a massacre at a church, only to be hunted down by Pathan Javed Khan, keen to make her his wife.

The Chess Players (Shatranj Ke Khilari)

(Satyajit Ray, India, 1977) | 18 November, 19.00 | £7 per film / £30 for the season

The East India Company, led by General James Outram (Richard Attenborough), begins the annexation of the Indian state of Awadh, while its effete monarchs, surrounded by courtly trappings, ignore the impending military threat and instead lock themselves into a game of chess.

The Assam Garden

(Mary McMurray, UK, 1985) | 10 February, 19.00 | £7 per film / £30 for the season

A gentle tale of reconciliation; an ex-tea planter returns to England after the end of Empire and builds a tropical garden to remember his beloved India. On his death, his wife (Deborah Kerr) struggles to cope with the garden, until she meets her new Indian neighbour.

The Opium War

(Xie Jin, China, 1997) | 17 February, 19.00 | £7 per film / £30 for the season

Released to coincide with the handover of Hong Kong, this Chinese epic tells of the Opium War between the British Empire and the waning Qing Dynasty, through key figures including British Naval diplomat Charles Elliott, and fiercely nationalistic Lin Zexu.

Gandhi

(Richard Attenborough, UK, 1982) | 24 February, 19.00 | £7 per film / £30 for the season

An epic on the life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, from his early career in 1890s South Africa fighting injustice and racism, to his leadership of the freedom movement in India, using non-violent protest.

Daytime Lecture Series: the East India Company: Trade And Empire

This series of seven lectures explores the dramatic history of the East India Company, including some of the company’s colourful personalities such as Captain Robert Knox; stories of perilous trading seasons, and the impact the company had on the people and places it traded with.

Traders: the East India Company and Asia

6 October, 11.00–13.00 | £7.50 per lecture or £40/£30 concessions for the series

Curators John McAleer and Robert Blyth open the lecture series with an overview of the new Traders: The East India Company and Asia gallery.

The East India and the making of its Maritime World

13 October, 11.00–13.00 | £7.50 per lecture or £40/£30 concessions for the series

Huw Bowen, Professor of Modern History at Swansea University is an expert on the history of the company and a co-author of Monsoon Traders: the Maritime World of the East India Company, the book which accompanies the new gallery.

The Real Crusoe

20 October, 11.00–13.00 | £7.50 per lecture or £40/£30 concessions for the series

Katherine Frank, author of Crusoe: Daniel Defoe, Robert Knox and the Creation of a Myth talks about the real life castaway and East India Company captain who may have been the inspiration for one of Defoe’s most celebrated creations.

Storm and Conquest

27 October, 11.00–13.00 | £7.50 per lecture or £40/£30 concessions for the series

Stephen Taylor discusses Storm and Conquest, his dramatic account of East Indiamen voyages undertaken as the company battled for control of the Indian Ocean. Sea battles, storms and shipwrecks all feature along with the stories of crew and passengers from the brutal Captain Corbet to the scandalous Lady Elizabeth Barlow.

The East India Company and Ceylon

3 November, 11.00–13.00 | £7.50 per lecture or £40/£30 concessions for the series

Dr Sujit Sivasundaram, Lecturer in International History at LSE, tells the story of the East India Company’s relationship with modern-day Sri Lanka.

The Opium War

10 November, 11.00–13.00 | £7.50 per lecture or £40/£30 concessions for the series

Dr Julia Lovell, author of The Opium War: Drugs, Dreams and the Making of China discusses her book which looks at the causes and consequences of the first Opium War as well as its role in the story of modern China.

Eighteenth-Century India

17 November, 11.00–13.00 | £7.50 per lecture or £40/£30 concessions for the series

Professor Jeremy Black discusses Britain’s role as an imperial power in 18th-century India, where the British Empire’s rise to dominance was not uncontested. This talk explores the ways in which Britain competed not just with local rulers such as the Nawab of Bengal, but also with other imperial powers including the Persians and the French.

Behind the Scenes

Get up close and personal with some of the Museum’s most precious objects. The Behind the Scenes events allow you to learn more about specific pieces from the collection with our leading experts.

The Astronomer’s Clothes

12 October, 14.00–16.00 | £12

A look at the clothing of Astronomer Royal Neville Maskalyne and its connection to India. With Curator of Decorative Arts and Material Culture, Amy Miller.

The private journals of Edward Barlow

16 November, 14.00–16.00 | £12

With historian Steve Martin and paper conservator Paul Cook.

Swords

8 February, 14.00–16.00 | £12

With Curator of Imperial and Maritime History, John McAleer, and the museum’s metalwork conservators.

Chinese ship models

15 February, 14.00–16.00 | £12

With Curator of Ship Models, Simon Stevens and Zefeng You of the Institute of Ancient Chinese Ships.

Conference

Paper from the East

Friday 7 October, 10.00–18.00 | £99 / £75

An opportunity to learn about traditional paper-making techniques in China and Asia. In association with China Culture Connect.

Closing Event

The East India Company and Me

25 February, 11.00–18.00 | FREE

Amitav Ghosh’s Man Booker-nominated novel Sea of Poppies, partly researched at the National Maritime Museum, sets the tone for our closing day. Set during the Opium Wars, it features a polyglot cast and crew: a motley array of sailors and stowaways, coolies and convicts – people only hinted at in official records. As they sail down the Hooghly River and into the sea, their old family ties are washed away and they forge new lives in remote lands. Ghosh’s Ibis trilogy attempts to fill in the blanks left by the archives.

Might you be descended from merchants, soldiers, seamen, indentured labourers? Does someone in your family have a connection to The East India Company?

Discover and share your own connections to the East India Company with the help of experts from The National Archives, London Metropolitan Archives and National Maritime Museum. Hear from historians and genealogists who have successfully traced their own ancestors, from Anglo-Indians, to Chinese Caribbeans and British Yemenis. The day will culminate in an interview with Amitav Ghosh by Razia Iqbal.

Tickets for all events can be booked at www.rmg.co.uk or call 020 8312 6608

Notes to editors

• The National Maritime Museum holds the world’s largest maritime collection. It is housed in historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. It incorporates the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, and the 17th-century Queen’s House. The Museum works to illustrate for everyone the importance of the sea, ships, time and the stars and their relationship with people. The Museum welcomes over 2 million British and international visitors a year and is also a major centre of education and research. For more information visit: http://www.rmg.co.uk.
• Sharwood's is the number one UK brand in Asian sauces and accompaniments. Established more than a century ago, the brand is steeped in heritage and received a Royal Warrant in 1994. Sharwood's provides the best range of quality products for people who love cooking and enjoying Indian, Chinese and Thai food – more than 21 million Sharwood's curries are consumed in Britain alone each year. To find out more about the Sharwood's product range and to get some delicious meal ideas visit www.sharwoods.com.
• Monsoon Traders: the Maritime World of the East India Company was published to accompany the new permanent gallery at the National Maritime Museum, Traders: the East India Company and Asia. Monsoon Traders tells the story of the East India Company’s encounter with the Indian Ocean and the effects this had on Asian and British societies and politics. Highly illustrated throughout with objects from the collection, it explores conflict and conquest, piracy, rebellion and empire. Published by Scala in association with the National Maritime Museum, it is available from the Museum’s shop or at www.nmmshop.com.

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For further information or images, please contact:
Jenny Stewart or Sheryl Twigg
National Maritime Museum Press Office
Tel: 020 8312 6732/6790 | 07903 547 268 or Email: press@rmg.co.uk