IAPAR

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2018 Day 2

Natya Vachan

On the first day of Natyavachan Spardha (final round), two plays were read. Court-martial  (Dir. Mr. Bipin Mangeshkar) and Thasht (Dir. Mrs. Madhura Tapre-Aagarkar). One thing that was common between both the plays was – Rebel. Rebel against someone wrongfully in power. Court-martial is a courtroom drama about Jawan/Sawar Ramchandra who has shot Capt. Kapoor and accepts his did openly. Though he is accused for an attempt of murder, we slowly realize the reasons behind his act. The play showed parts of a (still) cast-based society and how one suffers from it. It explores racism, domestic violence and centralized power.


Court-martial also used its military background to intensify the issue and to provide a strong ending. That is about six women living in a working women’s hostel. Women who are standing (or struggling to stand) against the male dominant society. That explores different phases of womanhood and the impact of society on it. It created a strong picture of women fighting for their deserved freedom and ready to pay the price in the process. Tharlela lagna modlelya mulinchi gosht they explained the title and stayed honest to it.

-Sanket Bagul.

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2018 Day 2

Eladidi and Zaga

On day 02, ZAGA was presented at Platform performance. It is a site specific performance draws parallels between the spiritual and the physical. Integrating art and science in bringing a more synthesised awareness which begins in wonder and ends in wisdom.

Later on, ELADIDI was performed by Smt. Rituparna Biswas.
Ordinary story of an ordinary girl – ‘Eladidi’. We never got to see Eladidi onstage but we know how she looks, how she behaves or even how many marks she got. How? Because of Mukti! Mukti is the one talking about Eladidi. Not only Mukti but her father, Mother or even her Teachers. Mukti couldn’t be as smart as Eladidi but there’s something she’s wonderful at – storytelling. And that’s how she found herself again. We all are influenced by someone especially in Childhood. But what happens when that influence is very strong that it takes over what you actually are? When we forget that our idols are humans too. Or when the influence brings the bad side with it. Is it love or addiction? Children’s minds and hearts are precious that must be taken care like delicate flowers. Alas, in our society it is often ignored. Which can have life long effects and that’s what Mukti made us think about. Are we raising our children to suffer silently?
Mukti followed Eladidi’s fate after marriage. She suffered but did not gave up like Eladidi. She stood up to tell her story. Mukti reminded us that it is beautiful to be ordinary. Just be yourself and you’ll be uniquely beautiful. Ordinary story of an ordinary girl – Mukti. Somebody we all may know. Sitting besides you in auditorium, crossing a street with you, maybe your teacher or even your sister. Maybe that’s why her story became more heart-wrenching. It is something we all saw but did not noticed. Before leaving she took a promise from listeners, to tell their stories as well. Not to be silent. “I can smile and laugh more because of Eladidi” said the soul of Mukti, Rituparna Biswas.

-Sanket Bagul.

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2018 Day 2

Introduction to Realistic Acting Workshop – Aniruddha Khutwad (India)

Thistwo-day workshop was facilitated by senior theatre practitioner Aniruddha Khutwad who tought acting based on the Stanislavaski System. He tought students the difference between the concepts actor, character and role. ‘Actor’ is nothing but the creative state of the mind. ‘Character’ is invisible – the actor has to study the character and when the actor performs the character based on his study, that can be called the ‘role.’ He also delved into the ideas of real, reality, and realism. He shared that if the play is a lie, the actor has to act the lie. Just like reality, acting is not realism but it is conviction. The workshop concluded by running glimpses of the History of Theatre, Romanticism, Absurdity, Impressionism, and Expressionism in artwork

-Bipin Ghobale

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2018 Day 2

Acting Workshop – Prof. Ram Gopal Bajaj (India)

Thistwo-day workshop was facilitated by senior theatre practitioner Aniruddha Khutwad who tought acting based on the Stanislavaski System. He tought students the difference between the concepts actor, character and role. ‘Actor’ is nothing but the creative state of the mind. ‘Character’ is invisible – the actor has to study the character and when the actor performs the character based on his study, that can be called the ‘role.’ He also delved into the ideas of real, reality, and realism. He shared that if the play is a lie, the actor has to act the lie. Just like reality, acting is not realism but it is conviction. The workshop concluded by running glimpses of the History of Theatre, Romanticism, Absurdity, Impressionism, and Expressionism in artwork

-Bipin Ghobale.

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2018 Day 8

How to devise your own solo – Savita rani (INDIA)

There is no one-way of devising a solo. There is no defined rule or methodology for it. It is a self-enquirer process which demands lot of self-motivation, passion and patience while working/devising alone. It is open, flexible and unique to each one. Everyone needs to develop their own working process and findings, this workshop enhances every performer to find their own artistic expression.

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2018 Day 8

Physical Theatre – Atsushi Kakumoto (JAPAN)

The focus of the workshop is physical theatre, not text-based. Exploring the very first steps of new creation. Introductions about movements focused on walking and focusing on how to understand communication through physicality, which is foundation of speech communication.

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2018 Day 8

When I’ll become a cloud by Gomel Puppet Theatre (BELARUS)

Janusz Korczak. He lived for children’s sake; he died for children’s sake. On the 6 of August 1942 he entered to the gas chamber of Treblinka extermination camp with the children from his “Dom Sierot”, as he couldn’t leave them alone in that gas chamber. Trembling by whistle of a steam locomotive from the nightmare, that is coming their way to carry away people never to be brought back again, this kind teacher invents a tale of the Good King Matiush.

WhenillBecomeACloudDiscussion

When I’ll become a cloud is a story of hope in dark times, or love and sacrifice for the children and humanity.

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2018 Day 7

RIP – Rest In Peace, Enquiring Restlessness in Pieces – Savita Rani (India)

. . .Kyun na mai Shan Shan mai jiyu, Kan Kan mai bikhru? Saundarya ko piyu? Surya toh phir bhi ugega, dhoop toh phir bhi khilegi lekin meri bagichi ki hari hari ubb par oss ki boonde har mausam mai nahi milegi!

Women’s lives are full of blood. But don’t mistake me, women’s lives are full of colours. Collecting subtle pieces of a woman’s life, playwright, director and actor Savita Rani satirically showcased the norms, traditions and rituals which Culture has tied to her.

The play tells story of a woman who is tied to her husband but wants to travel. She tries to convince him to take her along on his work-related trip by designing a performance to show him, using the sindoor in her hair, bindi on her forehead, and her saree and jewellery that Culture has imprisoned her with. The performance within the performance is about making the audience realise the intensity of the ideal that a woman is supposed to look beautiful, made up and inappropriate attire all the time and in all her emotions. But the protagonist wants to wander, grow through it and break the traditional norms.  She wants to free herself and be herself and live on her own terms: For her, by her. She wants to be centre of her life.  Sugarcoating all these pieces and serving them with satire, the performance leaves the audience in a sour state of mind of being caught tolerating and propagating patriarchy.

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2018 Day 7

Animated Theatre Workshop – Gomel Puppet Theatre (Belarus)

This workshop introduced the participants to performance skills through improvisation, puppet manipulation, and play. Combining theatrical animation, understanding the system of puppets, and looking at their practice primarily was the focus of this workshop. The facilitators shared that they perform approximately four hundred plays a year, have their own repertory, and perform two plays in a day. They also shared glimpses of history of Belarusian theatre. They concluded the workshop with the practicals of puppetry with the participants, and showed glimpses of the play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ through the puppetry.

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2018 Day 6

Abhivyakti, Lekhan ani Natak – Abhiram Bhadkamkar (INDIA)

This was a two-day writing workshop facilitated by senior playwright Abhiram Bhadkamkar. The focus of the workshop is to bring us fresh ideas for performances and finding unique expression. He shared that plays have to be written to tell the truth. A particular play is written since one thinks about a particular situation, analyses it and then presents it to the audience. It is a recreation of what is seen. For effective
expression, a human being should be sensitive to his or her roots, ponder upon the roots of his/her experience and think about it strongly. What happened is not as important as how it happened. A writer has to tell nothing but everything with just his words.

– Bipin Ghobale