Dulani Kulasinghe sits in front of the Chattri Memorial reading a book. There is a clear blue sky, but it is cold and she wears a wooly hat and a scarf

Dulani Kulasinghe and the Chattri Writing Group

Hear and read new writing that brings Brighton Dome's colonial and performance heritage into the present

'In December 2021 an intergenerational group of women of South Asian heritage – raised all over the world and now East Sussex-based – met on the Downs. We walked to the Chattri Memorial then read letters written by Indian soldiers during the First World War. Later that day we visited the Royal Pavilion estate and wrote about what we had seen and felt, immersed in the history of the Indian soldiers. Afterwards we periodically met online to keep exploring the mix that makes us. We started calling ourselves the Chattri Writing Group. The name stuck. 

The REVEAL project gave us a chance to meet again in person and to focus on our connections to Brighton Dome’s heritage over a day-long residency. After walking around the Pavilion estate, talking to staff about the buildings and scouring piles of archival material on Brighton Dome’s architectural, social and performance history, we settled around a table in Anita’s Room to talk, reflect and write. 

The creative responses that you can hear and read here were written and recorded between December 2023 and January 2025. Though few of us were used to taking space in this way, it felt particularly important to record our work in our own voices. Artist Jill Carpin – whose family heritage includes South Asia by way of Mauritius – created this stunning poster, inspired by our words and Brighton Dome’s many-faceted history. 

I hope our work gives you a new lens for looking at this strange and beautiful symbol of our city. And when you’re out and about, look for Jill’s poster, signposting new readers to these reflections.'

Dulani Kulasinghe

A poster advertising the Chattri Writing Group Reveal project. There are cut out images of famous people and Brighton landmarks on an orange and yellow background evocative of a sun rise. Text on the poster reads: Chattri Writing Group X Reveal Brighton Dome Heritage Project. Hear and read new writing that brings the Dome's colonial and performance heritage into the present. January to June 2024. Clockwise from top: arch of Brighton Dome, Jimi Hendrix, Royal Pavilion, Southern Syncopated Orchestra, Duke Ellington, Indian soldiers in Pavilion Gardens, Chattri Memorial

Chattri Writing Group x Reveal Brighton Dome Heritage Project

Atiya - Singing our own song in a strange land

Download 'Singing our own song in a strange land' pdf, or listen below