On the 13th and 14th of June, DSM Batch 2018-19 performed in their school for the very last time as students. This is a short review of the event and their year-long learning. Aadyant. Aadyant and the preparation leading up to it. Photo Credit: Poulomi Dey Each year, the PG Course in Acting & Theatre-making…
This year’s student production it Rakt Kalyan and has been directed by Sunil Shanbag. It is the Hindi adaptation of Girish Karnad’s Taledanda. And if you just did a backflip to see those two names together, we don’t blame you! Taledanda is a significant piece of Postmodern Indian literature. Though set in 12th Century Karnataka,…
By Tanvi Parekh, kathak dancer and travel scribe He shares a love-hate relationship with Mumbai, the city which is at the heart of most of his plays. She has been lighting, directing, and conducting workshops all across Mumbai. The two collaborated for Ambu and Rajalakshmi, officially. But unknown to Ramu, she has lit most…
What do tea cups, salt shakers, Dame Judi Dench, and bits of PVC tubes all have in common? They have all played prominent roles in critically acclaimed and thought-provoking theatre around the world. Material has always been part of the general world of theatrical performance, serving as props, sets, costumes, make up, lights and…
In Discussion: Theatre Festivals of India – Value and Judgement by Shruti Achesh _______________________________________________________________ Intriguing storylines, palpable performances, distinguishing voices and glimpses of various fascinating forms – a theatre festival is supposed to bring us all of this. And big banner theatre festivals – Kala Ghoda Festival (which has a large theatre strand), Hindu Theatre…
Written by Lavanya Narayanan Cross-dressing plays multiple roles in theatre all across the world The man, the woman, and the transgender: all portrayals of Maati, the titular character that takes center-stage in Drama School Mumbai’s Hindi adaptation of Federico Garcia Lorca’s Yerma. Director Mahesh Dattani’s reinterpretation, however, is about more than just a woman looking for…
By Tanvi Parekh, Kathak dancer and travel scribe He shares a love-hate relationship with Mumbai, the city which is at the heart of most of his plays. She has been lighting, directing, and conducting workshops all across Mumbai. The two collaborated for Ambu and Rajalakshmi, officially. But unknown to Ramu, she has lit most…
Conversations@theDSM has brought theatre veterans and raw talent together to discuss myriad nuances of drama and theatre. Last week, actor Shernaz Patel came to DSM to speak on theatre and share her experiences. Shernaz was interviewed by Manjiri Pupala, a talented actress and an award-winning documentary film-maker. With a gathering of 50 people, Shernaz was…
by Zohra Malik Once upon a time; in a place that could be anywhere in the world; people gathered to tell stories. Everything, from the neighbourhood gossip to legends and myths, took shape through recounted narratives. Today, in an era where voices are being silenced by the noise of gunshots fired outside homes, let us…
Written by Gaurangi Dang If we cannot handle the economics of theatre then what remains of it is a hobby, albeit a very expensive one. So maybe we don’t need theatre anymore and maybe somewhere we are all responsible for its slow death. Mohit Takalkar has an ability that very few people seem to…