Akram Khan mines Indian spiritual soap in Hong Kong-bound Until the Lions

Dancer and choreographer made his name in Peter Brook’s adaptation of the Mahabharata, and returns to the Sanskrit epic for New Vision Arts Festival production about love, revenge and betrayal

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Akram Khan (left) directs, choreographs and stars in Until the Lions, which makes its Asian debut in Hong Kong as part of the biannual New Vision Arts Festival.

Published: 5:48am, 14 Sep 2016Updated: 5:54pm, 14 Sep 2016

Akram Khan is a busy man. In the four months leading up to his performance in Hong Kong in November, he had only one time slot available for this interview. And during our 20-minute talk, Khan managed to drive to work, park his car, walk into the English National Ballet in central London, where he is choreographing Giselle, and order breakfast from the canteen.

After some 27 years in show business – including 16 years of choreography, numerous awards for dance and services to the arts, and responsibility for an acclaimed section of the London 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony – Khan can explain his vision in a few words, which is fortunate.

As a child, Khan trained in the Indian dance Kathak.

One of the many things Khan has been busy with is a show called Until the Lions, which premiered in January at the Roundhouse in London, and will make its Asian debut in Hong Kong as part of the biannual New Vision Arts Festival. This year’s edition will run from October 21 to November 20.

It is based on one story from the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata, about Princess Amba, who is abducted by her fiance’s enemy, Prince Bheeshma. Despite being released later, Amba is rejected by her family and by the King of Shalva. She has no one left, so she turns to the gods.

“The story is about love, betrayal and revenge,” says Khan.