A concept album inspired by a life-changing accident
and Near Death Experience (NDE)
Funded by Arts Council England with additional funding from Help Musicians
and support from Disability Arts Online, Graeae and South Asian Heritage Month
On March 29th 2017 I was hit by a bus and dragged under its wheel. Overnight, my mobility changed and I am now disabled.
The Burgundy Book is an artistic and creative response to this life-changing experience.
It’s a poetic, magical and richly layered story that takes audiences through that tender journey and the transformation it sparked. Told through a personal lens, and using original music, song and spoken word, it asks big questions about how to navigate the before and after.
The Burgundy Book will be released online in Summer 2024.
The Team
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Renu Arora
Writer, Performer & Songwriter
Renu is an actor, singer and writer with over 15 years of experience in theatre, TV and film. Most recently, Renu performed the role of Madam LaVaughn to critical acclaim in The Magician’s Elephant for The Royal Shakespeare Company; in 2020 Renu was commissioned to create a trilogy of audio pieces for BBC Essex & BBC Sounds, and in 2022 Renu formed part of The RSC’s Freelance Consultation Group. The Burgundy Book is based upon her life-changing accident in 2017, which also led to a near-death experience (NDE). The injuries Renu sustained & the NDE changed her life forever & catalysed an extraordinary journey into the depths & edges of trauma, despair, love & hope.
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Marc Teitler
Music Consultant
Marc Teitler is a composer/lyricist signed to Warner Music. His musicals include the award-winning THE GRINNING MAN (Bristol Old Vic, Trafalgar Studios), THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT (RSC), STUCK ON A SUNDAY (Royal Opera House) and BADDIES (Unicorn Theatre) and he has scored plays at numerous theatres including the Young Vic, The National Theatre and the Almeida Theatre. His work for TV and film includes music for American Horror Story, Portlandia, Quercus, Bones, Loud House, the 7th Dimension and he is the recipient of the Guardian Innovation Award.
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Sita Brahmachari
Dramaturg
Sita Brahmachari is an internationally award-winning writer of Children's and Young Adult novels, short stories, poems, and plays. An exploration of belonging, community, equality, and diasporic journeying is at the heart of her writing.
Photo by Danny Price.
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Hannah Tookey
Producer
Hannah is a producer and fundraiser working across film, audio, theatre, digital arts and games to drive awareness and change on important social, political and environmental issues. She founded production company This Little Rock to create impact-led arts and media projects. Their first documentary film, Pointe Black, premiered on Nowness, won five awards and was selected for BAFTA and Oscar qualifying festivals. Hannah's theatre credits include productions at Southwark Playhouse, New Diorama, Birmingham REP, Nottingham Playhouse, Shoreditch Town Hall, and UK and international tours and coproductions. Hannah is a Board member for imagine if Theatre Company and Young Arts Fundraisers. She is also a Churchill Fellow for the arts and social justice, an RSA Fellow, and an alumnus of The Clore Emerging Leaders Course. www.hannaheugenie.com
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Pete Dennis
Sound Designer & Editor
As a graduate of Gateway School of Recording at Kingston University, Pete began his professional audio career in a Music Production Company in London in 1991. As a freelancer, he’s done session work for a London-based Record Producer, working with artists including the Sugarbabes, Jennifer Rush, Russell Watson, and Máire Brennan (Clannad). During this time, he also recorded several audiobooks for Random House Publishers. He is currently producing and recording radio plays & podcasts for Production Companies, Writers and Comedians.
