Previous Events
334 past events
Songbird Sessions #4: Begum and Jordan Johnson
Begum recalls the glorious psychedelia of the 60s with dreamy, lo-fi sounds. The 3-person band, of which two members are from Peter Cat Recording Company, combines trance-like guitar grooves, and moody bass work with melancholic singing. Supporting Begum with an opening act will be singer-songwriter Jordan Johnson, voted among the top 5 acoustic acts in the city. Songbird Sessions is an intimate monthly gig series curated and produced by the folks at Pagal Haina Records. The endeavour is simple - to put the focus firmly back on the artists and the performance. *For ages 16 and above.
Ek Baar Ki Baat Hai: Rajinder Singh Bedi, Harishankar Parsai & Patras Bokhari
Three short stories. Three powerful solo performances. A beautiful bride-to-be has a nightmarish encounter with her groom on a wedding day, and wonders if beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. Swami Ji extols the virtues of the holy cow and provides a brief history of beef eating. Two friends teeter on the edge of companionship and enmity. Ek Baar Ki Baat Hai, picks from the timeless writings of Bedi, Parsai and Bokhari, and offers a unique perspective on our current times. Performed by Shashwita Sharma, Rajesh Kumar, KC Shankar. *For ages 16 and above.
Bebe Ka Chamba
In the violent aftermath of partition, a house full of women battle the frustrations of family imposed house arrest. Growing up under the watchful gaze of a controlling matriarch, four sisters navigate heartbreak, loss and sexual awakening in a moving and lively portrait of Punjab in 1948. This adaptation of Lorca's, "The House of Bernarda Alba", is directed by Sohaila Kapur and set to a live Punjabi folk music score composed and performed by the legendary Madan Bala Sindhu. *For ages 16 and above.
Say, What?
Why do we think that hearing is the only way to listen? Say, what? is a contemporary dance duet that explores sound, embodiment and body language. As a conversation with a hearing impaired dancer, it is performed in complete silence, and slides between using and abandoning language as we know it. By questioning the idea of speaking as the basis for meaning, this performance prods us to rethink our perspectives on inclusion, access and privilege. Featuring Avantika Bahl and Vishal Sarvaiya. *For ages 14 and above only. Students and audience members with hearing impairments are provided with a 50% reduction in pass price at the door.
Kalaripayattu Workshop
Kalaripayattu is an ancient martial art form that is based on rigorous scientific discipline. Originating in Kerala, it opens up the practitioner's inner strength and flexibility, providing mental, physical and spiritual focus. This makes it a useful practice for theatre artists and dancers in addition to enthusiasts who utilise the practice for daily discipline. KALARIGRAM, based in Auroville, was founded by Lakshman Gurukkal and trains artists from across the world. Their workshop will take participants through the basics of Kalaripayattu, and is open to beginners as well as those who are familiar with the practice. *The workshop includes 5, one-hour sessions. While it is suggested that participants attend the full duration of the workshop, drop-ins are also welcome.
Topi Ki Dastaan
This adaptation of Topi Ki Dastaan recreates the turbulence between two childhood friends - Topi and Iffan. Their union is torn apart by the chaos of partition, and the chasms created between neighbours. Based on a popular Hindi novel, Topi Shukla, written in the early sixties by Dr. Rahi Masoom Raza, the performance uses a unique storytelling form, dastaan narration, to strike a chord with audiences. Through this process it also reflects on the communal differences arising in the present day scenario. *For ages 16 and above only.
Quicksand
Inspired by real events, Quicksand unfolds after an incident at an airport between a man and a woman. Until this moment, they are strangers to each other and anonymous to the world at large. What follows is a trial by social media and the steady, irreversible unraveling of two private lives in the public eye. The play expresses the shifting perspectives and formats of communication as participants, spectators and commentators. Featuring Devika Rajpal, Kriti Pant, Neel Sengupta and Pranjal Vaid. Written and directed by Neel Chaudhuri. *For ages 16 and above.
Molly Sweeney
Despite being blind since infancy, Molly Sweeney has been leading a content life. Her husband Frank, however, champions himself as a do-gooder and insists that she seek treatment. A renowned but dormant eye-surgeon, Mr. Rice, is solicited for the cause, and there begins a powerful drama which examines the connection between seeing and understanding. This wry, emotional performance is based on the original two act play by Brian Friel, and features Vidushi Mehra, Farhad Colabavala and Samar Sarila. *For ages 14 and above
I* - An Affair with Yourself
I* is a journey of self-discovery undertaken by an actor, a writer, a singer and a clown. Through a montage of moments, sounds, moods, rhythm and movement, the performance questions the status quo of the self. The audience is invited on this journey as the boundaries of space are blurred, and members choose where they'd like to experience the performance from. *Devised and Performed by Deepthi Bhaskar, Laxmi Priya, Vedanth Ramesh and Vijay Krishna *For ages 14 & above.
Coloured and Choosing
Can you tell from touch itself, whether it is masculine or feminine? In this performance, an immersive, "blind" experience is created for a single audience member. Once blindfolded, the audience member experiences stimuli shared by the actors, without reliance on sight. In this way the body interprets signs and explores social stereotypes about gender. The narrative is shaped by the audience, which is coaxed to perceive the world sans generalisations.**This performance is designed to be shared with one audience member at a time and involves touch. *Devised by Rijul Ray and Vrinda Misra
FACE TO FACE
In Face to Face, a theatrical dance production, Sita and Draupadi come together from across time and space. As female protagonists of the two Sanskrit epics (Ramayana and Mahabharata respectively), they bear the cultural burden of maintaining pride and grace through intense hardships. Choreographed by Jyotsna Shourie, this performance considers the deep influence that these mythological figures have had on countless generations of women. Enacted through Bharatnatyam and spoken dialogue, these iconic characters establish a potent connection on stage, and harmoniously share their experiences with one another. Performed by Nandita Mehra, Aneesha Grover, Amrita Sivakumar, Himanshu Srivatsava, Sana Hasan & Aadya Jain. *For ages 14 and above.
LIVE POETRY READING
Pranav Kirti Mishra's Hindi poetry draws on the flow of Jaun Elia's Urdu verse as much as Bukowski's raw English prose. Born in Lucknow, and settled in Delhi, he is also the co-founder of fashion label Huemn. Mishra finds inspiration in chaos, which enables an unapologetic stream of writing, undeterred by filters. During this reading, he will weave an autobiographical account of sorts, lingering on his muses that range from the women in his life to broken memories. He renders philosophical reflections using characteristic tongue-in-cheek humour and passionate wordplay. *For ages 16 and above