The theatre group, Ventures, stages their new play, A Judgement Error. Based on the Bengali play, Shalyaparbo, by Shri Nirup Mitra, it traces a girl whose life changes after she undergoes a major surgery. We speak to director, Susanto Banerjee, co-founder of Ventures, about the production:
Tell us about the original script by Sri Nirup Mitra.
The original script, written by the renowned Bengali playwright, Shri Nirup Mitra, was published in the 1990s and has been a popular play on the Kolkata stage for a long time now. The play is called Shalyaparbo in Bengali.
How did you come across it and why did you choose to work on it?
I used to act in Shalyaparbo, in Kolkata and it is very close to my heart. This play has also won me the accolade of Best Actor, in the prestigious Sayak Theatre Festival of Kolkata. The choice of doing it in English is so that we can take it to a larger audience.
What are some themes it explores?
The story is set in the context of a nursing home and builds on a surgery which is debated on its merit and judgement, and it opens up the medical profession for deep introspection. It has a beautiful story line centered around a young girl whose life changes based on certain decisions taken by an experienced surgeon. The play is intense, builds on tension and drama, provides a thrilling experience, as 15 characters on stage tell a passionate story, reflecting upon the judgement exercised on the young girl.
The play recognises the immense contribution of medical doctors in the society and highlights their enormous responsibility to be sensitive to a human body which is an embodiment of life, not a life as opposed to death, but a life with it's own emotions, expressions and sentiments. It keeps the audience gripped with the tension that nicely builds over a medical judgement call taken on a young lady in a nursing home.
Tell us about the cast and the crew.
This is a 15 characters play, where most of the actors come from a corporate background and are passionate about theatre. I am a senior finance professional and have served the corporate world for more than 27 years but theatre has been my passion. I have acted in Bengali and English plays such as After Khub Kachher and The Flame. A Judgement Error is my third major directorial venture. I am also the scriptwriter for this play.
Rs. 400. At Jagriti Theatre, Whitefield. July 28, 3 pm and 6.30 pm. Details: 41242879