A play adapts slice-of-life stories from the book, Neela Scarf
Rehearsals in progress for the play
The rare beauty of human relationships is perhaps in their commonness. And mostly, the periphery of discrete experiences lies adjacent, often seeping into the margins of mortal consciousness. Neela Scarf illustrates this quality, the very accessible but private complexes of human ties. An Act N Grow Theatre Company production, the play is an adaptation of short stories from Anu Singh Chaudhary’s book, Neela Scarf. “Our play is a slice of life for viewers. The stories cut across age and gender barriers to accommodate your emotional upheavals, doubts you struggle with or answers you look to redefine,” says Nitish Sharma, one of the founding members of the Delhi-based theatre group.
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Translation is no easy business. It becomes tougher when the medium changes. Ask founder-actor Ishan Chaturvedi about it and he describes how Chaudhary’s stories include time-travel, how her characters evolve, move from one juncture of life to another and the setting is required to adjust to that. “We didn’t want to fall short of depicting any of these defining features,” he says, further adding, “With a small stage and limited resources, we designed a set focusing on parallels amongst the stories. This made transitions seem smooth.”
Only a month old, the group is imbued with the tall aspiration of helping newcomers find a space to act and grow together. “Nitish, Ishan and I felt the need for a space of our own after we moved to Mumbai. The theatre scene in Delhi has a rich history; here, it is different… somewhat soaked in cinema. We wanted to bring the vibe we know back home, to the city. Act N Grow was born of our personal wants too,” explains Mohit Nehra, co-founder. He says this lull phase of the pandemic is still wrought by financial burdens. “It has been harsh on everyone. An actor can’t be an actor without practice. While rediscovering your job virtually brings some relief, having audiences back in a room is a reassuring feeling.”
On: November 18, 8.30 pm
At: Veda Factory, Versova, Andheri West
Log on to: insider.in
Cost: Rs 100
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