Student-Led Theatrical Productions Shine at Interdisciplinary Workshop

The Interdisciplinary workshop at the Indian Institute of Art and Design (IIAD) lasted two immersive weeks, providing second-year students from Fashion Design, Interior Architecture and Design, Fashion Communication, Fashion Business Management, and Communication Design with a holistic, hands-on experience in theatrical production. Led by academician, actor and director Kuljeet Singh, the workshops ran from October 30th to November 10th, 2023.

Kuljeet Singh's workshop provided insights into the nuances of theatrics, covering a comprehensive journey from narrative exploration to script writing, and extending further into set design, sound design, lighting, and various other facets of theatrical arts. This immersive experience guided students through the intricacies of storytelling, material selection, and the technical aspects of play production, resulting in the development of six unique 20-minute plays—Jashn, B.B.C, Not Cinderella, Shubh Ashubh, Safar and Samsara.

JASHN

Jashn vividly depicts the personal toll of war, drawing inspiration from real-world conflicts. The narrative focuses on a young girl's harrowing post-war experiences. Using innovative shadow techniques, and audio-visual techniques, side characters' stories unfold, revealing themes of regret, trauma and inherent selfishness during war.

B.B.C

B.B.C cleverly tackles the façade of competition among multinational corporations (MNCs). Featuring mascots like McDonald's clown and 'Burger Queen,' the storyline unfolds with stalls competing for customer attention. A series of entertaining battles, including a roast, diss track and a delivery competition, reveal orchestrated collaboration between employees and mascots. The climax exposes the intentional gimmick, revealing the apparent brand rivalry as a strategy to drive customer transactions.

NOT CINDERELLA

Not Cinderella is a satirical take on the classic Cinderella narrative, incorporating a play within a play concept. The story kicks off with the original Cinderella fleeing just before the play starts. The audience is then invited to participate, with play characters urging them to take on the role of Cinderella. The comical twist unfolds as participants hilariously refuse until a guy reluctantly agrees, forming the crux of this humorous satire.

SHUBH ASHUBH

Shubh Ashubh explores superstitions comically, portraying a woman navigating life situations through this age-old belief system. It starts with her son's exam, leading to a humorous competition as she embraces superstitions. The narrative unfolds in scenes involving a marketplace visit and a kitty party, revealing the ironic humour and baselessness of these irrational beliefs. The play encourages the audience to interpret the underlying realisation, leaving room for diverse perspectives.

SAFAR

Safar is a thought-provoking exploration of womanhood through seven poignant scenes, portraying the challenges women face such as societal judgement and workplace biases. Rooted in emotion, the play weaves in the nine navarasas, adding depth. Concluding with the grandmother's call for the protagonist to "write her own story," it delivers a powerful message, urging women to seize control of their narratives.

SAMSARA

Samsara theatrically explores human struggles, drawing parallels between the Mahabharata and modern-day vices. The performance integrates light and shadow work, live acting (nukkad natak) and puppetry, concluding with a powerful Shiv Tandav dance. Aptly named, "Samsara" mirrors the cyclical challenges depicted in the play, offering reflections on adversity and renewal.

Interdisciplinary workshops cultivate collaboration and foster a holistic approach to problem-solving. During a recent session, design students delved into set design, lighting, and various production activities. This cross-disciplinary exposure not only enriched their skills but also nurtured adaptability—a crucial trait in the ever-evolving design landscape. The combination of collaboration, holistic problem-solving, and adaptability is paramount for success in the dynamic professional journeys our students undertake.

Over the course of two intense weeks, students underwent remarkable transformations in these workshops, delivering performances that kept the audience hooked until the last. Despite their initial unfamiliarity with production and theatre, these plays were nothing short of extraordinary.