‘Form and content shape each other’: On the evolving nature of theatre
The Hindu
Founder of Oxygen Theatre Company, Deepan Sivaraman, was in conversation with Anuradha Kapur, former director of the National School of Drama, on day 2 of The Hindu Lit for Life festival, on Saturday
“Sensorial theatre needs a different kind of spectatorial intervention and positioning. You cannot have a complete sensorial experience if you sit in only one place and watch throughout,” said Deepan Sivaraman, director, scenographer and founder of Oxygen Theatre Company. “The fundamental question we have to ask is: are they (spectators) coming to get entertained, enlightened or are they there to peep into the private show that is being offered? Are they there to observe or participate?” he asked.
Mr. Sivaraman was in conversation with Anuradha Kapur, founder member of Vivadi, and former director of the National School of Drama, on ‘Sense Smell Touch: Collaboration in Theatre Making’ on Day 2 at The Hindu Lit For Life 2021, held on Saturday.
Explaining his point further, Mr. Sivaraman spoke about how the performance site of Ubu Roi, a play based on Alfred Jarry’s work, was conceptualised as a ‘jail’ or a concentration camp. “Because Ubu is a fascist. And he brings his system of functioning, and the audience is forced to sit and watch the performance whether they like it or not. That brings us to the question: why are the spectators there? They are there to witness the mad regime of Ubu but they cannot go out,” he said.