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Exploring new ideas in theatre

Theatre personality Ranji David speaks to Rasheed Kappan about his foray into the theatre scene and his plans to experiment with the medium.

Six years ago, you would have dismissed Ranji David as someone gripped with stage fright who lurked in a dark corner of the theatre far away from the spotlight. At that time this delicately framed, talented man could only dream big. Depressed and inhibited, he wondered whether he had it in him to make his mark on stage.

However, he was determined not to waste his talent and plunged full time into theatre. He started the "Playback Theatre Workshop" with "The Script" in 1999. "It took me a few years to get over my stage fear. And then, when I began acting, I realised my potential. I started directing plays scripted either by myself or people close to me," says this veteran of over 95 theatre shows and a good number of scripted plays.

However, those were the early years. The man was still transforming himself and breaking out of the cocoon. He helped create new theatre groups and made refreshingly original innovations to "Playback Theatre", which he has named "Perspective Theatre."

Together with his friend, Nandini, Mr. David is now busy with his interactive troupe, "Yours Truly." "We believe in theatre that involves teamwork. In conventional theatre, when one person is chosen as the lead actor, the other artistes often feel left out. Their enthusiasm to play the other characters are kept hanging. Our plays are more about teamwork and less about character-based sketches," he says.

"Perspective Theatre" is where Mr. David's experimentation reaches its crescendo. How does it work? "You have five actors on stage, just like "Playback Theatre". A story is then played out, taking inputs from the audience. Each character gives his or her perspective and the other characters act accordingly, " explains Mr. David

Taking interactive theatre on a different route, Mr. David has come up with a concept called "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus". The audience is made up of couples who narrate an incident or episode from each of their lives. Actors enact the scene impromptu and a counsellor on stage provides his input. One of the partners offers his or her impression of the other and the scene is then re-enacted with a totally different perspective.

Mr. David has one lament with this attempt at experimentation. He says companies are yet to open up to experimental theatre. "People are ready to watch such shows. However, companies (who often invite shows in-house) are not so open. They want a formula that works. They ask for star performers; they are not allowing young people explore and showcase their talents," feels Mr. David. But he knows the show must go on. "The objective is to take theatre to places where it has never been taken before. We perform at old-age homes, child development centres and other such places where the audiences have little opportunity to watch good plays," says Mr. David. Merging music, art and cartoons with theatre, Mr. David has often tried to break artistic boundaries.