The Incredible Real Life Spy Story Told in Dance
Defiant to the end, her last cry was “LIBERTÉ!”

LABYRINTH DANCE THEATER
presents

NOOR

starring Felicia Norton

NOOR tells the inspiring story of World War II heroine Noor Inayat Khan. Although Noor grew up in a Sufi pacifist household filled with music and poetry, she became the first female wireless operator for Britain's SOE to infiltrate Nazi-occupied France and ultimately the last communication link between Britain and France. Code named Madeleine, Noor wanted to save innocent victims from the atrocities of Nazi Fascism, passionately believing in freedom for all people. Her heroic life would end after being transferred to Dachau. Defiant to the end, Noor's last cry was “LIBERTÉ!”

Noor Inayat Khan was posthumously awarded Britain's George Cross and France's Croix de Guerre.

In 2012 Princess Anne unveiled a bust of her in London, the first of its kind commemorating an Asian War heroine.

Emmy nominated composer David Majzlin’s arresting score evokes Noor’s inner spiritual world and the harsh outer world she put herself up against.

This 44 minute dance-theater tour de force received standing ovations in London, Paris, Edinburgh and New York.

Funded in part by ArtsWestchester

Overlooked No More: Noor Inayat Khan,
Indian Princess and British Spy

- The New York Times (read article)

 

Noor stampBritian honours Noor-un-Nisa Inayat Khan with a stamp as part of the series 10 famous people born in 1914.
(see the series on BBC News)

 

 

RADIO INTERVIEW

BBC Scotland Radio interview with Sasha Spielvogel on "Sunday Morning with Richard Holloway"
on youTube.

 

Promotional Videos

CREATIVE TEAM
Producer: Labyrinth Dance Theater
Writer & Director: Sasha Spielvogel
Choreography: Felicia Norton and Sasha Spielvogel
Performer: Felicia Norton
Score: David Majzlin
Sound Design: Eve Cuyen
Costumes: Millie del Rio, Karen Young

Voice of Noor: Holly Villaire 
Jullian Emma Burger reading "The Great Elephant Tale" from The Twenty Jataka Tales
by Noor-un-nisa Inayat Khan

"Song to the Madzub" words and music by Noor Inayat Khan, adapted for cello by David Majzlin
Poems written by Noor 
"La Violette", "The Lamp of Joy"
"My Country Awake" by Rabrindrath Tagore

Script development based on research from the following sources:
Madeleine by Jean Overton Fuller
Spy Princess by Shrabani Basu
A Man Called Intrepid by William Stevenson
A Life in Secrets Vera Atkins and the Missing Agents of WWII by Sarah Helm
Between Silk and Cyanide: A Codemaker's War 1941-1945 by Leo Marks
We Rubies Four: The Memoirs of Claire Ray Harper by Claire Ray Harper and David Ray Harper

Special Thanks: Shrabani Basu, Stuart Hodes, Sophia Paris, Christine Jowers, David Burger, Bruce Benedict, Jyotika Rao, Doug Barron.

TRAILER

NOOR from Sasha Spielvogel on Vimeo.

NOOR from Sasha Spielvogel on Vimeo.

PERFORMANCE HISTORY

Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, New York - December 7, 2017
St. Mark’s Church, New York, New York - November 13, 2016, Roger Ansanelli opened on crystal bowls
Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, New York - August 2015
The Scottish Story Telling Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland - Feb 5th 2013, introduced by Richard Holloway
Rudolf Steiner Theatre, London, England - August 2011, Madan Singh and orchestra opened for NOOR
Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Scotland - August 2011
Bryant Park, New York, New York - July 2011
Shambhala Institute, Boulder, Colorado - July 2010
Erasing Borders: Festival of Indian Dance, Battery Park, New York - 2010
The Nehru Centre, London, UK.
Introduced by Shrabani Basu, author of Spy Princess: The Life of Noor Inayat Khan Feb 5, 2009
Fazal Manzil, Noor’s family home, Suresnes, France - Jan 2009
Arts at The Abode, New Lebanon, New York - August 2009 
Angel Orensanz Synagogue/Center for the Arts, New York, New York - Dec 27, 2008

Premiere
Performing Arts Center at Rising Tide Sarasota, Florida - Premiere April 18, 2008 

 

PHOTO GALLERY

NOOR ON DVD

Labyrinth Dance Theater's NOOR on DVD

If you would like to purchase the DVD please email
labyrinthdance@msn.com

Felicia Norton in NOOR