In a first, NCPA plays set to be performed at city’s bars, pubs

MUMBAI: You could soon watch an NCPA play at a bar, pub or performance club. In a first-ofits-kind initiative, the National Centre for the Performing Arts ( NCPA) is set to commission plays that explore contemporary issues — and stage them at venues such as Brewbot in Andheri, The Barking Deer and Blue Frog in Lower Parel, and The Hive and Cuckoo Club in Bandra.

The initiative is called Edge, and is an attempt to take thea- tre to newer, younger audiences, ones who would not typically attend shows at the cultural institute’s own impressive headquarters at Nariman Point.

“Edge will use theatre to spark discussion and debate on issues such as gender roles, urban life and relationships,” says Deepa Gahlot, head of theatre programming at the NCPA. “The first edition of the festival will be held at the NCPA on Women’s Day [March 8], but all subsequent editions — starting later this month — will be held beyond our gates.”

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Actor-writer Divya Jadgale rehearses for her play — The Way I See It — which will be performed at various venues as part of the initiative ‘Edge’.