Theatre group Theatrecian is adapting Vijay Tendulkar’s Benare, a play written in the 1970s where the character flaunted her sexual identity, challenged the patriarchal onslaught at her character, and longed for a man to father her child when the single woman was expecting. Silence! The Court Is In Session, is a thought provoking court room drama.
The intriguing style of Meta Theatre is being explored with the help of live music, and mime. The play, to be staged on September 19, will be directed by Arush Sengupta and is produced by Tathagata Chowdhury’s Theatrician. We catch up with Chowdhury, the founder of Theatrecian, a prolific youth theatre company, before the show for a chat. Excerpts
Is Silence! The Court is in Session, a new production? Or, has it been already staged in other parts of India? Have you introduced any changes in Tendulkar's script?
For Theatrecian, Silence! The court is in Session is a new production. The script is structured in a fashion which we may address as Meta Theatre -- a play within a play. We have added another layer to make it obvious as to why we, Theatrecian, need to stage the play in the #MeToo era.
What is the plot all about?
Basic plot is about the dominance or violence, which is worse when it is psychological, against a free-spirited woman, who is expressive about being liberal and liberated. Not just men or the routine patriarchy but even women find a woman like Vijay Tendulkar’s Benare, intimidating.
Are you directing and acting in it?
I am simply producing the play.
How relevant is the play in today's context?
The play is extremely relevant. Let’s suppose there’s a wild woman that hides in all women. For a woman to be at peace and at ease with her body and soul is the cause for her to be exiled by many others, including women. And when such a liberated woman, like Benare, has to comply with what others want, causes such women to be exiled. It was relevant then in the 70s, it’s relevant even now, in the 21st century.
What are the other plays that you are are working upon or planning to stage in near future?
I am working on Charles Dicken’s Great Expectations, to be staged onDecember 6. It will be directed by Suktara Lal . I am directing The Sound of Music with students from Mussourie Public School and another musical, Josephand the Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat with students from Welham Boys.
Are there any original scripts you are working on? If yes, tell us about them?
There are two original plays I am scripting. One is Twenty Five Circus Avenue. It’s a political thriller on how several lives are connected with an illegal construction. It’s dark humour in content and structure. The other one is The Debt Death. This is about a couple who are engaged in role playing. The husband is drowning in debts. And he hatches a devious plan, which backfires and affects the young wife.
Silence! The Court is in Session will be staged in ICCR on September 19 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at bookmyshow.com