My experience at the Drama School, Mumbai over the last 9 months has been nothing short of amazing. That being said, it was never easy and there were days where one would come back wondering why one was putting oneself through such a tough process. Which me brings me to my first big learning at the Drama School, the ability to find new energy. This is something that I learnt quite early (week 4 or 5) during our work with Prabhat.
When you’re firing on all cylinders and slowly losing steam, you’ve got to push yourself and if you do you’ll find what you need to reach your goal. It’s funny how you can use anything as a metaphor because what I’ve just said I realize rings true about life. Which brings me to another realization that I had. It’s important to be able to see things from as many different perspectives as possible. Having said your own way of seeing or the one you identify most closely with is also really important. It’s sort of like understanding the self (where one’s coming from) as well as the other.
There has been a great deal of learning at various different points. The Theatre Making Lab process was a fantastic way to get us as students into the routine of constantly creating and performing, week after week for 20 weeks. New tasks brought new challenges and new solutions had to be found. The learning also came from working with each other as well as watching each other’s work. This leads to new ways of working, new ideas – new ways of seeing.
The course for me in terms of structure and content was also quite brilliant. While it was always emphasized that each actor/ performer/ practitioner has a method of work, by studying or using his or her methods and exercises we were encouraged to find our own way of working. The different techniques and subjects ranging from Stanislavsky to Commedia Delle Arte, Greek Chorus to Kalaripayattu improved one’s understanding and broadened the range of both the actor’s mind and body.
The six weeks of rehearsal, which led to the creation of the Curious Climb of Cutter Chee, was an experience in itself. Having never devised an entire 2 hour-long piece, one was exposed to an entirely new way of working. There was great deal of learning and the importance of improvisation was brought home to me.
The rigour and discipline that the Drama School gave me is something that I believe will stay with me for life. The idea that it’s the approach to work and the work itself, which is most important.
