Theatre makers on the workings of the stage, and changes they would like to see

The need for commercial theatrePatel performs during a stage rehearsal of Rahul Da Cunharsquos play One On One File PicAfter a lull people are now coming back to the theatre It is great to see more and more shows enjoying a good run I wouldnrsquot say it is at 100 per cent in the commercial space but it is much better There are also quite a few plays about poets and musicians emerging There is a lot of such productions coming to the fore right now People like to step out and enjoy musical plays and sometimes it is just coincidentalThings to change The financial struggle of theatre remains I suppose that is a continuous struggle when it comes to the lack of support or funding People especially newer theatre groups are still finding it a challenge to make theatre happen Beyond that I wish there would be more commercial plays happening especially in English I do feel that is something we need to push and revive across the board Otherwise there are so many young people doing theatre and that is great to seeShernaz Patel artistic director AadyamTo celebrate diversityIn our conversations with young theatre makers one fundamental question we ask is why we do what we do And in the discussion that follows questions often come up about the role of the arts in general and theatre in particular World Theatre Day is a good occasion to ponder thisShanbag second from right during a rehearsal of a production by Tamaasha Theatre File PicThings to change Only a few weeks ago a student production in a university space was physically attacked allegedly for ldquohurting the sentimentsrdquo of the majority community There are many other such instances of the narrowing of tolerance for different viewpointsAnd this is where theatre can play a role because eventually the strength of the arts is in celebrating different viewpoints Not just celebrate but also to assert that despite all our differences mdash and there are many of those mdash there is something universal that connects everyone I believe this is the primary challenge that we in the theatre need to engage withSunil Shanbag theatre maker cofounder Tamaasha TheatreChallenge of the timesIn the postpandemic phase a number of smaller places to perform are on the rise Theatre is becoming a more intimate experience especially in Mumbai On the other hand there is also an artistic resilience about the growing curtailment of what we speak about and how we can speak about it Thatrsquos just the world we live in I believe that right now time has thrown down a gauntlet to playwrights to find a way to circumvent this curtailment and many of them are answering itA moment from Thakore Padamsee directed Every Brilliant Thing File PicThings to change I wish to see more infrastructure put in place I genuinely believe that where we are in 2024 information is not the primary need or purpose of a human being However empathy and what you feel about that information is what theatre can impartMy recco I would recommend When the Rain Stops Falling by Andrew Bovell an Australian playwright The play is set across 150 years a generational story about many things that we are obsessed about now Another adaptation of Every Brilliant Thing that we also staged is now available on HBOLog on to dramaonlinelibrarycomQuasar Thakore Padamsee founder QTP ProductionsNeed for more spacesThere are definitely a lot of smaller venues in Mumbai which is great Many of them are new so they are still cultivating audiences I think what we desperately need in this city is other larger venues to perform at When it comes to theatre unless it is subsidised it is difficultA moment from Khalidrsquos latest production Shikaar Pic CourtesyInstagram Suleiman merchantThere is one Prithvi Theatre and a thousand theatre companies that want to perform there There are a lot of people doing interesting work though I think that theatre is always going to be a medium for young theatre makers and as long as they are around exciting stuff will happenThings to change Honestly if we had more spaces and more support things would be better Beyond a point it might sound like the same story over and over again In a city like ours we are starved for venues People are willing to come and watch theatre in MumbaiMy recco One of the plays I recently read and enjoyed is Ayad Akhtarrsquos Pulitzerwinner Disgraced I really liked reading it Other than that I caught the recent screening at the NCPA of Vanya with actor Andrew Scott He is a wonderful performerLog on to Disgraced on dramaonlinelibrarycomSheena Khalid director Patchworks EnsembleCatch these playsA scene from Project STRIPgtgt Project STRIPON March 28 and March 29 6 pm and 9 pm AT Prithvi Theatre Juhu Church Road JuhuLOG ON TO inbookmyshowcomCOST Rs 710gtgt Firefly WomenON March 29 7 pmAT Nirmik Cultural Centre 2 Akurli Road Kandivali EastCALL 8097946445ON March 30 31 730 pmAT Harkat Studios Aram Nagar Part 2 Versova Andheri WestLOG ON TO insiderinCOST Rs 400 onwardsgtgt Perspectives on The CrossON March 30 7 pm and 9 pmAT Method Juhu JVPD Vile Parle WestLOG ON TO inbookmyshowcomCOST Rs 350A moment from Anandowarigtgt AnandowariON March 30 7 pmAT Rangshila Studios Aram Nagar 1 Versova Andheri WestLOG ON TO insiderinCOST Rs 200gtgt FasaadeIshq an adaptation of Molierersquos The MiserON March 31 815 pmAT Creative Adda 191 Aram Nagar Part 2 Versova Andheri WestLOG ON TO inbookmyshowcomCOST Rs 150