Anuradha Menon aka VJ Lola Kutty has written her first monologue, a specially commissioned piece for the 11th edition of The Park’s New Festival. “It’s about a child actor who hasn’t really cut it in adulthood,” she says, adding that it rose from multiple observations: how they never get rid of the prefix ‘baby’, or the maturity they show when putting on their makeup, or the attitude of their ambitious parents. What happens to these kids when life catches up? “Sibling rivalry, marriage, and more… It’s whimsical, dramatic and filled with humour,” says Menon.
And for all you know, the piece might gain a global audience soon. Just like last year’s commissioned play Elephant in the Room by Yuki Ellias, which made it to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2017. To serve as a launch pad for new productions is what the festival aims for, while building a community of art lovers. Ranvir Shah, founder of Prakriti Foundation and curator of the festival, says, “Today, we have a varied audience. It shows that they are open to new stuff, are hungry for it. And to me, to have the older generation also interested in this, is heartening.”
Every act staged as part of the festival is new, and curated to present the right mix of theatre, music and dance. And it has been so, since the very first edition in Chennai (it now has a presence in six cities). Shah recalls the applause and excited chatter, after a performance by Mallika Sarabhai that marked the birth of the festival. “Our shows run to full houses now: be it for England-based Avant Garde’s Hip Hop show, Akram Khan’s production, Shankar Tucker’s performance... What more can a curator ask for?”
While travelling, Shah always has an eye out for interesting performances linked to the Indian diaspora. “Roopa Mahadevan, who is performing this year, is a NYC-based Tamilian, collaborating with artists of Indian origin and another from Israel, to bring out a piece for the festival.”
Another highlight is a contemporary dance performance choreographed by Surjit Nongmeikpam from Manipur, who is a two-time PEGDA (Prakriti Excellence in Contemporary Dance Awards) winner. Folktale is the unconditional love story of lime (yes, the fruit) and the performers. “The dancers believe that lime exists even before mankind and has many more untold stories tapped in it,” according to Nongmeikpam. He suggests, “Enjoy the performance, like watching the flow of water or the sunset. Do not try to find out the story but feel the reaction.”
Anuradha Menon and Roopa Mahadevan perform at The Park on September 1 and 2 respectively, and Folktale will be staged at Spaces on September 3; all events at 7 pm. Entry is free. 9999990520
