Theatre call

Quasar Thakore Padamsee

Curated by Quasar Thakore Padamsee, an impressive line-up of global acts will be staged from November 17 to 20 at NCPA and Prithvi Theatre. "The idea is to bring plays that have a distinct connect to the written word and innovative forms of storytelling," informs Quasar Thakore Padamsee, curator of the theatre festival. Here is what's on offer.

Catch the Hindi edition of the popular play White Rabbit Red Rabbit by Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour, wherein the performer and audience discover the script together. "The play has been adapted in various European languages. A Marathi version is currently being staged in Pune and this will be its first version in Hindi," Thakore Padamsee points out. In another unique experience, look out for gaps in the script of the play Blank by Soleimanpour, that will be filled in by the audience to reveal a story that celebrates the human imagination. Indian writer and journalist, Raghu Karnad, will perform this.

Going Viral by British director Daniel Bye will explore the concept of how news and controversies spread like wildfire in our new world. Poetic License from Canada by Erika Batdorf, a one-woman performance, will see theatre and interactive speech come together to create a world of poetry.

Mada's Marvels featuring Cardistry (Sydney) by Adam Mada will bring back the golden era of interactive sleight-of-hand magic. "This one is interesting and is followed by a session that talks about the things Indian and Australian magicians have in common," he adds.

Of the Indian acts, don't miss The Ballads of Bant Singh where Nirupama Dutt interviews the subject of her powerful biography, Bant Singh, in an hour-long evening session interspersed with songs, conversations and storytelling.

Women on Record by Vidya Shah is a lecture demonstration that takes us back to the early twentieth century - the Gramophone era - to visit the incredible women performers who were divas of their time.