From one language to another. From one medium to the next. The plays being showcased this month have undergone an incredible metamorphosis from their original forms. Apart from the host of adaptations on the playbill, a mix of genres and themes awaits you this October.
Here's what we recommend:
1. 12 Angry Jurors (English) When: Saturday, 5 October Where: Prithvi Theatre What: It’s a strong cast. You have an Ajitesh Gupta, Deven Khote, Devika Shahani, Dipika Roy, Nikhil Murali, Prerna Chawla, Rohit Malkani, Shivani Tanksale, Shivani Vakil, Sohrab Ardeshir, Suresh Venkat & Rajit Kapur, who take the stage under the direction of Nadir Khan. So you can walk in expecting an air tight production. Adapted from Reginald Rose’s teleplay of the same name, the story focuses on a jury of 12 who are to decide whether an 18 year old boy is guilty of murdering his father. While a lot of the evidence is damning, much is at stake, and a wrong judgement could result in the ruin of an innocent life. Originally produced for Aadyam, an Aditya Birla Group Initiative, the production has since received a lot of love with audiences deeming it to be a poignant watch and an incredibly involving and engaging show. Know More 2. Writers Sutta Marne Gaye
(English)
When: Saturday & Sunday, 5 & 6 October | Saturday & Sunday, 13 & 14 October
Where: Veda Black Box
What: Improv group, Spicy Nines brings to the table an interesting premise; an entirely improvised play. Not a scene, not a short skit, a full one hour long play. 6 improvisers rely purely on audience responses to craft a story which they proceed to enact on the spot. If you ask seasoned rehearsal addicts, that could be a recipe for disaster, not to mention a daunting and anxiety inducing prospect. However, having seen some of the cast in other improv shows before, I can vouch for the fact that the presence of mind and wit they employ is truly commendable. While most improv shows aren’t heavy on the narrative, they are definitely a lot of fun to engage with. Watching people support each other’s choices and helping one another string together something in the spur of the moment is also heartening. So if you’d like something light hearted and fun to watch, maybe this is for you.
Know More
3. Dharavi Dreams
(Hindi)
When: Sunday, 6 October
Where: Afterschool of Hip-hop
What: A Hip-hop Musical taking place at the After School of Hip-hop in Dharavi features the children of Dharavi who don the stage as b-boy’s, b-girls and bbx artists. Produced by BookMyShow, the performance brings to the forefront, the dreams of Dharavi, and the future it’s young are building for themselves as dancers and artists. The kids are enthusiastic, energetic and talented. The director Neha and Co-Director Shimli Basu are known for their work in musical performances and are beautiful singers themselves. While this is a premiering show, the premise of it all has us very excited. We’re going to be there, hope to see you too?
Know More: Contact - +91 79 7731 5639
4. Janpad Bijnor
(Hindustani)
When: Tuesday, 8 October
Where: AntiSocial
What: Afsana Theatre’s Janpad Bijnor is a sweet, simple and delightful mosaic of stories from (drum roll) Bijnor. We learn of the lives that three women lead there, their desires, their experiences. We celebrate their victories and share in their troubles. Their nuanced and layered realities find a charming outlet in this performance that is filled with music and colour. The performances are honest and heartwarming. Overall if you’re hoping to catch a show that feels like a warm hug, check out Janpad Bijnor which is a part of antiSOCIAL’s theatre festival!
Know More
5. Chinese Coffee
(English)
When: Thurday,17 October
Where: Studio Theatre, NMACC
What: Here we have another adaptation! Written by American author Ira Lewis, and having been adapted to a film, Chinese Coffee was brought to the Indian stage over a decade ago. Featuring Danish Hussain and Vrajesh Hirjee as two friends who also happen to be artists, the play explores the nature of friendships, betrayal and art. Critics have lauded their performances while also praising how the adaptation seems to lend itself well to the Indian context. So other than its intriguing title, the play seems to have quite a bit on offer. So give it a shot and head to the Studio Theatre!
Know More
6. Barricade
(Hindustani)
When: Monday, 14 October | Saturday & Sunday, 19 & 20 October
Where: Multiple Venues
What: Utpal Dutt's Barricade was written as a response to the political instability in West Bengal in the 1970's. While the play itself is set in 1933, Germany, right before the Nazi's rose power, Dutt implied that history seemed to be repeating itself in India. Originally written in Bengali, Sunil Shanbag's Hindustani adaptation seems to have landed at the theatre just a few months after the elections and seems to draw parallels to what this means for present day India. The production seems to be the talk of the town with audiences raving about the cohesive and well-paced portrayal.
Know More
7. Jo Dooba So Paar (Hindi, Urdu, Persian) When: Friday,18 October Where: Experimental Theatre, NCPA What: "Khusro dariya prem ka, ulti wa ki dhar, Jo ubhra so dub gaya, jo duba so par" Amir Khusrau's poem is all about love; about how drowning in the river of love actually allows you to sail across. And isn't that an apt title for a play that delves into Sufism - a school of thought that believes love between humankind reigns above all else. Ajitesh Gupta and Mohit Agarwal bring a beautiful tale woven out of anecdotes from the life of Amir Khusrau and Qawallis sung by a cast of extremely talented singers. The Dastangoi is lively, engaging and leaves you feeling as though you’ve been enveloped in warmth. Know More
8. Great Text Reading
When: Monday, 28 October
Where: Andheri (W)
What: A cozy living room in Andheri, some known faces, some new ones. A script, some biscuits and squash. What else could make the end of the beginning of the week more bearable? We’re not really sure. A participative play reading, free and open to all makes the act of reading a play a lot less lonely. And while the texts are always intriguing, it’s probably the warmth of the community reading them that makes these sessions great. Come be a part of the next one!
9. I Killed My Mother/ It Wasn't My Fault
(English)
When: Tuesday, October 29
Where: Anti Social
What: An ensemble of young and talented performers comes together to put on a show that GenZ and Millennial audiences have been raving about. It’s the story of a mother daughter relationship. It’s the story of a girl who can't seem to wake up on time. It’s the story of every urban 20 something year old that’s trying to find their ground in a digital age where there’s an information overload, in a time when carving out meaningful relationships isn’t as easy as it seems. A contemporary comedy, I Killed My Mother/ It Wasn't My Fault is filled with humour, interesting pop culture references, an easy to dislike character and all her endearing inner voices. The show has received much love and this time, the performance is a part of antiSOCIAL’s Theatre Festival line up.
Know More