‘It’s time to reimagine theatre for digital space’
Even as the lockdown restrictions are being eased in a phase-wise manner across the country, live performances in theatres and concert halls still remain off the limits, since month of March. But rather than sulking about it, many have adapted to the present situation and have gone digital with their productions, like theatre director Prabhjot Singh.
“I would love to do theatre in physical space because that is the core of theatre. (But) the digital space has helped me and my team reach a level where we are able to earn, get a sustainable amount. We have tried to get more people with us, as a lot of them are on the digital space,” says Singh, founder and creative cultivator of The Roots India.
Talking about how the theatre scene will witness a shift in the post-pandemic world, Singh says that for the people who are stuck with one idea of theatre, nothing will change for them. “They will start again. But people – who like to experiment – I am sure things will change for them. This is from a creative perspective. But I feel a lot of things will change if you look at the production part of it. You will have less audiences coming in. Pehle bhi kam log aate the, ab aur kam log aayenge. I really feel that now it is time for theatre and performing art to revisit and reimagine for the digital format and get a new language, that is what I learnt in the last four months,” he explains.
He has already done two digital shows of The Perfect Match and is gearing up for his third, which will be streamed online on September 11 at 9pm.
“The idea of the play revolves around patriarchy, how we see women in the structural marriage set up, racism, homosexuality, virginity and the hyper nationalism we have in the country. The whole scenario is about finding a perfect groom on a video calling app. It’s the story of a father who lives in the US and hires a matchmaker to get the right match for his daughter. It is an interactive play. It’s not pre-recorded and the whole fun is that the audience guides you where to go. The matchmaker asks the audiences to join his team and help find a groom,” shares Singh, who has conceptualised, designed, directed and produced the play.
Digital space helped me and my team reach a level where we are able to earn, get a sustainable amount PRABHJOT SINGH, Theatre Director