Press Release - Kaivalya Plays Presents a Double Bill of Provocative Theatre This August and September
Indian theatre company Kaivalya Plays is set to premiere two compelling productions—The Pillowman and I, Josef—exploring themes of censorship, guilt, individual liberty and the citizen-state relationship.
A Dark and Gripping Narrative in The Pillowman
Kaivalya Plays kicks off its double bill with Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman on 24-25 August 2024 at the Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, Delhi. This dark comedy, set in an unnamed totalitarian state, tells the chilling story of a writer whose macabre tales of child murders blur the line between fiction and reality, leading to a nightmarish interrogation.
Over the summer, Kaivalya Plays held open auditions and received over 150 applications, out of which a cast of 6 was chosen. They attribute this overwhelming response to the play’s popularity with young theatre-makers and McDonagh’s characteristic black comedy repertoire. Raghav Seth, the director of The Pillowman, shares, "The play takes us through a gripping journey through the twisted corridors of creativity and consequence, and makes us reflect on the role of the storyteller in a society like ours.”
Produced under license from Concord Theatricals and in collaboration with the Programmes Team at India Habitat Centre, this production is supported by Instituto Cervantes Nueva Delhi. It promises to be an unforgettable experience, albeit one that is strictly for audiences 16+ due to its mature themes, including violence, abuse, and trauma.
A Bold Exploration of Kafka’s World in I, Josef
Premiering from 5-7 September 2024, I, Josef is an immersive multimedia experience that reimagines Franz Kafka’s The Trial into a unique first-person perspective. Presented in collaboration with the Goethe Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan New Delhi to celebrate #100YearsKafka, this binaural audio experience invites the audience to step into the shoes of Kafka's protagonist, Josef K, who finds himself ensnared in a mysterious and bewildering trial for an unspecified crime.
Gaurav Singh Nijjer, the director and designer of I, Josef, explains, "In re-imagining Kafka's timeless text about bureaucracy and the power of the state vs the individual, we realize still how relevant it is. The use of binaural audio technology and projection mapping invites the audience to connect and empathize with the helplessness and despair Josef K feels on a more visceral level.”
Audiences are invited to enter a dark room and put on state-of-the-art headphones, placing them at the heart of the narrative and entangling them in the labyrinthine mind of Josef K as if the action were unfolding in their own consciousness. This 45-minute experience, offered in both English and German, is played out in slots with only 30 audience members in attendance at a time.
Kaivalya Plays: Continuing a Tradition of Thought-Provoking Theatre
Kaivalya Plays has a history of producing theatre that challenges the status quo. Both projects explore ideas of censorship, freedom of speech, and the dignity of life. Artistic director, Varoon P. Anand, adds, "It's heartening to see two emerging directors take the reins of two unique projects that question the status quo and the role of the individual in society. At Kaivalya Plays, our artistic work has always been grounded in critical issues that confront society, such as mental health, gender representation, and disinformation.”
With these two productions, Kaivalya Plays continues its mission to bring alternative narratives and innovative storytelling techniques to the stage, adopting a transcultural approach in its work. Anand adds “We are also delighted to collaborate with cultural partners like the Goethe Institut, Instituto Cervantes and Indian Habitat Center to realize these projects.”
Listing Information
The Pillowman (English, 120 mins)
Martin McDonagh's dark comedy, set in an unnamed totalitarian state, tells the chilling story of a writer whose macabre tales of child murders blur the line between fiction and reality, leading to a nightmarish interrogation.
Dates: Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th August 2024, 7:30pm onwards
Location: Stein Auditorium, Indian Habitat Center, Lodhi Road, New Delhi
Tickets: Available on BookMyShow and Programmes Desk, Indian Habitat Centre.
More information HERE.
I, JOSEF
(English / German, 45 mins)
An immersive multimedia and 'headphone theatre' experience that invites the audience to step into the shoes of Franz Kafka’s most well-known character, who is inexplicably arrested and put on trial for an unspecified crime.
Dates: 5th (Premiere and evening reception), 6th and 7 September 2024, slots 12pm onwards
Location: Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan New Delhi
Tickets: Free entry with prior registration on www.kaivalyaplays.org
More information HERE.
Media
Press Contact
Gaurav Singh Nijjer, contact@kaivalyaplays.org / +91 9818925599
About Kaivalya Plays
Kaivalya Plays is a performing arts and production company led by Varoon P. Anand as its Artistic Director and Gaurav Singh Nijjer as its General Manager. Since 2012, they have built transcultural associations across India and the world. Their artistic work includes original, devised theatre performances that are multilingual, interactive, and hybrid, use technology and media on stage, and are built using techniques of improvisational, documentary, and physical theatre. Through a focus on education, training and community, their work spans diverse programs across artistic development, language learning, mental health, gender, accessibility, and transcultural collaboration. They have received multiple artistic commissions and grants through their collaborations with Instituto Cervantes Nueva Delhi, Goethe Institut Delhi, MediaFutures and other cultural partners. Their recent artistic work includes I, Josef (2024), The Pillowman (2024) ABSURDO (2023), Mining Hate (2023), Funes The Memorious (2021), Lifeline 99 99 (2021), Unravel (2019), amongst others. Most recently, they were awarded the Creativity Pioneers Fund 2023 by the Moleskine Foundation. More information: www.kaivalyaplays.org
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