WHILE COMMUTING OVER public transport, one often sees groups of women huddled together, or sitting across the ladies section, dressed in a similar fashion — with a hint of colour on their lips or kohl-lined eyes. Though each one of them is unique and different in their own way, there are stories they share — of a woman’s experiences.
Over the years, there have been many theorists, authors, and playwrights, who have tried to capture the true essence of a woman through their works, and many have failed miserably. Vinay Sharma, on the other hand, juxtaposes the experience of a woman in a contemporary setting with those of female characters written centuries ago.
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Rikh and Padatik Theatre’s latest production, Pieces, features a non-linear narrative, which will present the works of iconic playwrights and authors of the Western canon, in a different format. The narrative weaves together vignettes from the lives of various women, both young and old, and depicts intimate aspects of their relationships, and their innermost feelings.
Anubha Fatehpuria will perform the stories of several unnamed women characters in a 70-minute solo act, which was entirely the brainchild of Vinay Sharma — starting with the sets, lights, scenography, as well as sound design.
“The entire idea was to bring together writers from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, and see how people react after watching the play. There are different aspects of a man-woman relationship or an emotional inner turmoil, which the solo act will try to capture, through the generic portrayal of one woman. Since the characters do not have a name, they transition smoothly,” explains Sharma, the director.
“If we give away the names, people will come expecting some defined traits of one or the other playwright. I have interpreted the extracts in my own way and decontextualised them, so that people can gauge their own relationships, through the prism of the words written long ago,” he offers.
Pieces is one among the many avant-garde works that Padatik Theatre has produced in the past, including Ho Sakta Hai Do Admi Do Kursiyan, Camera Obscura and Yahaan — each of which follows a non-linear narrative, and includes elements of fringe theatre.
“We’ve been working with fringe theatre or non-linear narratives since the beginning of the 21st century. It allows you the freedom to structure the entire production in a freewheeling way while bringing it closer to the human experience, which is also fragmented, and not linear,” adds Sharma.
At Padatik Little Theatre. On June 29 & 30, 7 pm.