India has a rich history with theatre, dating back more than 5,000 years. Theatre was one of the main methods to keep the incredible stories of different communities alive. It is an eternal form of cultural and social expression, and this tradition is still alive. Here are some of the best and most diverse narratives this March 2024.
Consent by Nina Raine
Directed by Vishal Handa and performed by the advanced acting batch of Jeff Goldberg Studio, Consent is a thrilling yet painful courtroom drama that questions justice. The story revolves around friends, who are all lawyers, having opposing briefs on a rape case. When each version of the truth gets challenged, their private lives begin to unfold. The play has been adapted from Nina Raine’s 2017 award-winning play and ran from 23rd to 25th February and 1st to 3rd March 2024.
Consent by Nina Raine
Out of Bounds by Rajesh Gopie
Out of Bounds is a one-man comedy play, written and starring Rajesh Gopie. The main character, Lal, is a young Indian boy who grew up in KwaZulu-Natal, Africa, during and after the Apartheid. The audience witnesses the mindset of Lal, while witnessing Apartheid also struggle with love, identity, belonging and family. Their last show was on 1st March 2024 at Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre.
Out of Bounds by Rajesh Gopie
With Love, Aap Ki Saiyaara by Juuhi Babbar Sonii
A criticism of gender discrimination, With Love, Aap Ki Saiyaara narrates the journey of Saiyaara Ali through marriage, divorce, and self-discovery. Saiyaara is the only child of wealthy parents who has faced the brunt of abuse from her father, multiple husbands, and in-laws but breaks those chains successfully. Sonii wrote the play based on a character her mother and famous theatre director, Nadira Zaheer Babbar, created. Their last show was on 2nd March 2024.
With Love, Aap Ki Saiyaara by Juuhi Babbar Sonii
Guldasta by Hidayat Sami
This play is a treat for fans of Indian literature. Guldata, directed by Hidayat Sami, is a collection of short stories, adapted to theatre, written by different Indian authors. From the writings of Saadat Hasan Manto, Harishankar Parsai, and Kamleshwar, the drama is a love letter to the elegance of Indian narratives. The play was performed on 19th March 2024 at Prithvi Theatre.
Guldasta by Hidayat Sami
The Far Post by Yuki Ellias
During a time of war around the world, The Far Post is an experimental play, in Lepcha, about the death of two soldiers on opposing sides and their journey through the afterlife until their final destination. Their guide is a Postman Aunty and her goldfish. Yuki Ellias has a deep history with experimental theatre and we are sure that The Far Post is another thought-provoking drama. The play was staged on 5th March and 6th March 2024.
The Far Post by Yuki Ellias
“The more you go to a theatre and the more you hear stories you aren’t necessarily familiar with, the more open you become.”
– Lynn Nottage, American playwright
