Tuli Bera presents:

Bangali Meye

2025 Co-MISSION Festival of New Works

BANGALI MEYE, the fourth and final iteration. 

এই বাঙালি মেয়েটা কী? WHAT IS THIS BENGALI GIRL?

What rituals does it know, what rituals has it forgotten, what rituals will it create and carry forward?

Unlearning is impossible— what is learned will live within us. Always. 

How do we negotiate between what is self-defined and inherited?

Let us: Trace the pain, Trace the pleasure, Trace the [              ] 

Dedicated to my ma, my portal to this Bangali Meye. 

TICKETS $16-$42

PERFORMANCES Friday, June 20th and Saturday, June 21st at 7pm

THE TEAM 

Tuli Bera: Performer + Director

Brice Hartmann: Project Manager + Emotional Support

Scott Rubin: Sound Design + Live Accompaniment 

Bob Garrett: Sound Design 

Lighting + Set Design: Giau Truong 

During the last 2-3 months of the fellowship, I’ve had folks come in to support me during my rehearsal process. These folks have helped shape the work in ways that I could not have done alone. Their witnessing and feedback allowed the solo work to stay alive outside of my [oftentimes] chaotic brain. I am deeply grateful and feel so held: Thank you, Preeti Veerlapati, Ashwaty Chennat, Darling Squire, Tithi Bera, Helen Lee, and Zach Nichols!

MORE ABOUT THE WORK

The first Bangali Meye iteration first premiered at Links Hall as part of its 2019 Co-MISSION Residency series, the second at the 2022 Pivot Arts Festival at the Edge Theater, and the third iteration at Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theater in 2023. The overarching theme for this series is about acknowledging, exploring, and understanding the experience of inhabiting the body and mind of a [child of immigrants] / [first-generation American], specifically one of [South-Asian] / [Indian] / [Bengali] descent living in Illinois. Each iteration is telling of my current state of mind and being— a dramatized snapshot.

EVENTS IN THE CO-MISSION FESTIVAL OF NEW WORKS

Sun, June 15th: Kevin Michael Wesson & Theatre Nobody’s CAMPOUT, A Night in the Woods

Tue, June 17th: Kevin Michael Wesson & Theatre Nobody’s CAMPOUT, A Night in the Woods

Wed, June 18th: Kevin Michael Wesson & Theatre Nobody’s CAMPOUT, A Night in the Woods

Wed, June 18th at 7pm: Amanda Maraist’s FOLK

Fri, June 20th at 7pm: Tuli Bera’s Bangali Meye

Sat, June 21st at 7pm: Tuli Bera’s Bangali Meye

Sun, June 22nd at 7pm: Dani Oblitas’ Un/Rerooted and Selena Lasley’s TIMEShit

Thu, June 26th at 7pm: Dani Oblitas’ Un/Rerooted and Selena Lasley’s TIMEShit

Fri, June 27th at 7pm: Jaquanda Saulter-Villegas & Jacinda Bullie’s FILLINZ, Put Some Respect on It!

Sat, June 28th at 7pm: Jaquanda Saulter-Villegas & Jacinda Bullie’s FILLINZ, Put Some Respect on It!

Sun, June 29th: Kevin Michael Wesson & Theatre Nobody’s CAMPOUT, A Night in the Woods

Sun, June 29th at 7pm: Amanda Maraist’s FOLK

FEATURED ARTISTS

Tuli Bera

SPRING 2025 CO-MISSION FELLOW

Tuli Bera is a Bengali American movement artist. They draw from various styles of dance: Indian folk and classical forms, classical and contemporary ballet, modern, aerial dance, and improvisation. Bera has collaborated and performed with various companies and individual artists: Ayako Kato, Aerial Dance Chicago, Ishti Collective, Ashwaty Chennat, Cristal Sabbagh’s Freedom From and Freedom To, and Darling Squire. Beyond performance, they support independent artists as a producer for dance and teach ballet and aerial dance for all ages.

ABOUT THE CO-MISSION PROGRAM

This event is part of Links Hall’s 2025 Co-MISSION Festival of New Works, two groundbreaking weekends of new performance and public events.

Representing some of the most talented makers in Chicago from dance, performance art, installation, and performance as social practice, six artists present works developed while in-residence at Links during the 2024-2025 season. Featured artists include: Links Hall Residents Dani Oblitas, Selena Lasley, Kevin Michael Wesson, and Amanda Maraist; and Fellows Jaquanda Saulter-Villegas & Jacinda Bullie and Tuli Bera.