This time again, India Habitat Centre Theatre Festival has brought together some of the finest theatre artists all across from India—Mumbai, Bengaluru, Guwahati, Imphal and Pune. Celeberating the diversity of Indian theatrical arts, the fest aims bring out new voices with the celeberated ones, fresh techniques and stories that resonate with the Indian audience today. To know more about the the fest, we talk to their Creative Head, Vidyun Singh.
While curating plays for the fest, what were some of the elements that you were focusing on?
Habitat Theatre Festival is the one opportunity in the year, where we bring in the best that is happening in the contemporary theatre from cities around India. The idea is to be able to bring a flavour of what theatre practitioners are doing in the spaces outside Delhi. And which is why we try interesting new trends in theatre—like what new experimental theatre is going on. So, that has always been the focus of the festival.
What has changed in the contemporary Indian theatre today?
A lot of fresh, innovative and indigenous writing is being used in theatre. The Indian theatre practitioners are trying to find more resonance with the audiences out there—to create adaptations or write original scripts which they know will resonate with the concerns of the audience in India. Straight off my mind, I can tell you about two adaptations that are happening. One is a Marathi play, which is an adaptation of a play called Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons. It has been adapted into a Marathi Play called Ghanta, Ghanta, Ghanta, Ghanta. The Verdict is also another adaptation where the plot and the storyline has been taken from an existing and well-known play. There's a third one too, The Proposal. All these three plays have been adapted for an Indian audience.
Tell us about your curtain raiser, Tumahre Baar Mai, what precedent do you think it will set for the rest of the fest?
The person who has written and directed the curtain raiser is Manav Kaul. This will probably be the fourth time that he is coming for the fest, so we have seen him from his debut work to now. He has grown as an actor, writer and director. Manav has not only continued to be the part of the theatre fest but he has gained a huge loyalty as well as fan following in terms of audience in Delhi. So I think it would be the perfect curtain raiser to be able to set the tone for original writing in India in terms of Indian theatre and a voice that is indigenous and that has grown in its sort of power and strength.
What are some of the concerns that the plays are addressing this time?
Theatre always addresses socio-political themes. For instance, if you look at Jyoti Dogra's solo performance, it is a journey that takes you through the kind of shame and angst attached to body shaving that a lot of people go through because of the kind of focus on having the perfect body in terms of the industry. It really makes you feel that you need to have a certain body type and the lack of which can lead to anguish and mental health issues. Without it being preachy, the play deals with such themes. It’s dealing with a reality and dealing with it in such a way that while you may enjoy the performance, it will impact you and cause you to stop and think, and relate with it.
Similarly, when you look at something like Dekh Behen 2, which looks like a complete entertainer at one level but at the same time it also shows in a nuanced way the kind of life society forces you to lead, so there are larger issues at the stake. The beauty of theatre and performance is that it arouses you with a sense of awareness, without having to rub it into your nose.
Tell us about the differences and similarities between cinema and theatre. What do you think about theatre’s significance today?
You know the thing about cinema and theatre is that it deals with our immediate concerns. But a live performance of a play or a theatre festival remains really important because we are increasingly going towards a world where all our consumption is a sort of entertainment consumption, that is becoming more impersonal and virtual. In a sense, we are consuming it on our own at home. Whereas, in theatre, you are actually connecting with the physical energy of the performer minus all the distractions that come in with OTT and cinema. Here, it is purely the joy of watching a group of people who make you suspend your disbelief and draw you into it with a power that is far more impactful because it is something happening live—in front of you. In addition, you are actually enjoying it in a space of collective energy of people.
IHC Theatre Fest is running from September 22 to October 1, 2023 at India Habitat Centre, Delhi.
Words Paridhi Badgotri
Date 19.09.2023