For the second session, we have chosen the journey of Experimental theatre from Chhabildas movement to theatre in intimate spaces as the topic of discussion. It will also shed light upon the theatre across the world, how the scene is changing from the perspective of playwrights.
For this discussion, we have veteran Marathi playwright and theatre director Shafat Khan who will be interviewed by actor Akshay Shimpi, who also happens to be a faculty at the DSM.
Experimental theatre has grown and has experimented with itself over time. From the first sessions in the halls of Chhabildas High school to rehearsals and performances in specially built, intimate performance spaces. From handling socially aware topics to exploring movement and performance, the experimental theatre has come a long way. Witnessing this growth was Shafat Khan, while being an active part of that movement. He has written and directed Marathi plays over decades and seen the growth and the change of experimental theatre.
About Shafat Khan
Shafat Khan is a veteran writer and director for the Marathi stage and is renowned for powerful, engrossing plays like Mumbaiche Kavle and Shobhayatra. His approach to writing for the stage is an inspired and meticulous one.
His plays include Kisse, Policenama, Gandhi Aadva Yeto, Popatpanchi and Dry-Day.
Shafat Khan recently got awarded for his work by the Sangeet Akademi.
About Akshay Shimpi
Akshay Shimpi is an actor, a theatre graduate, and is currently working as a faculty member at the Drama School, Mumbai.
About Conversations@theDSM
Conversations are a tradition in theatre. And so, the DSM brings an entire series of discussions, talks and conversations, curated for the first weekend of every month. Our purpose in these conversations is twofold. First, we celebrate the bond between guru-shishya. Teachers in school, professors in college, coaches at the gym and directors in the rehearsal hall – all mentors have taught you something through conversations. That something makes you the person you are today.
The second purpose in these conversations is to celebrate Rekha Sabnis.
Rekha Sabnis was a one-woman theatre army. She ran theatre group Abhivyakti from her house. She took care of sets, costumes, bookings, transport, tickets as well as acting and directing. Abhivyakti starting performing at the Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh, the same building that houses the DSM today. Rekha Sabnis was a key force behind the DSM-Sahitya Sangh partnership. And this partnership makes our work forging a new generation of theatre-makers, possible.
Rekha passed away in September last year, studying elements of the Natya Shastra till the very last.
Conversations@theDSM started in April. It is our small way of paying tribute to a great spirit who made theatre a little bit better for us all. These conversations form part of an ongoing series of talks between theatre-makers young and old. The entire series has been curated by Yugandhar Deshpande and Anuja Kale of TheatreAcross.
Date: 13th May 2017
Time: 5 pm
Venue: 5th floor, Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh, Kele Wadi, Girgaon, Charni Road East, Mumbai 400004.