eNatya Chaupal, our unique web hangout for all things theatre, will feature actor-director Shubhrajyoti Barat who along with a few of his actors will share insights into their play SONG OF THE SWAN, in terms of researching it, staging it and producing it. The actors may even perform a scene to give you a sense of their work. The play has been inspired by real-life events surrounding the Norwegian actor Hans Christian Ostro, whose life was brutally cut short.
Twenty years ago, the Norwegian actor was beheaded by Kashmiri militants. He had come to India to learn Kathakali and write a play based on the Mahabharata, but a holiday in Kashmir put a cruel stop to all that.
Director Shubhrajyoti Barat had briefly met the young man when the latter had come backstage after one of his plays. That he should see his face in the papers a few days later as a victim of terrorism shook him badly. The incident, he says, stayed with him, and when he opted to turn director by launching Knot Theatre, he decided to tell Hans’ story.
About Shubhrajyoti Barat:
Shubhrajyoti Barat started his journey in the early nineties, working with theatre luminaries like Satyadev Dubey and Jayadev Hattangady. He joined Ekjute Theatre Group headed by Nadira Zaheer Babbar in 1993. Shubhro, as he is popularly known, acted, designed lights, sets and music for most of the Ekjute productions between 1994 and 2005. He branched out and worked with playwright/director Chetan Datar. From 2007 onwards, Shubhro started working with Sunil Shanbag and Manav Kaul. In 2007, he directed his first play based on Tagore’s “Shesher Kobita” with Tom Alter. In 2011 he directed an adaptation of Arthur Miller’s PRICE. SONG OF THE SWAN is his third effort as a director.
eNatya Chaupal can be viewed in real time from the convenience of your location and can be viewed later too. It is our hope that we are able to bring you content through this platform that is meaningful and relevant to theatre.
