Shakti in stills from the play
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The historic Greek tragedy, Medea, by Euripides, was first staged in 431 BC as a part of a trilogy. While the opposite two performs are misplaced to historical past, the story of Jason and Medea continues to fascinate generations of theatre practitioners and has seen many iterations on stage.
Chennai’s Theatre Nisha is presenting an adaptation of Medea with Why She Did, What She Did. Directed and carried out by Shakthi, the play is designed by V Balakrishnan of Theatre Nisha. It may have reside percussion by Vishwa Bharath. The play, which had its premier in Chennai in December 2023, will debut in Bengaluru on March 2.
Shakti believes the theme of the Medea is related to today. “We would all like to think that we have moved on from the fact that women did not have agency in their lives, the theatre artiste and contemporary dancer, says from home in Chennai. “Unfortunately the idea of agency for a woman is still contested. I would like to believe I live in a world where Medea is irrelevant and a myth, but that is not the case.”
A solo efficiency, Shakti will be joined on stage by the percussionist. Liking to work with the weather of rhythm and motion and being a skilled theatre artiste and dancer, Shakti says Why She did What She Did will embrace these components.
Shakti has been in theatre for 12 years now and has a diploma in Movement Arts from Attakalari in Bengaluru (2016). A commerce undergraduate in advertising and marketing and a postgraduate in English literature, Shakti says she all the time wished to be an actor.
“We (Theatre Nisha) also work as theatre trainers in schools and colleges and acting institutions in Chennai. I think that no matter what you study, it only enhances your creativity. For instance, maths is all numbers and dance and music is rhythm and count. If you have studied physics, then that science will help you understand the stage lighting and design better,” says the 32-year-old actor.
Excited to carry a brand new notion of Medea to Bengaluru, Shakti says she has a delicate spot for the town. “I genuinely think that the audience in Bengaluru is extraordinarily clued into theatre and the performing arts so much that it fascinates us. We, as a group feel that Bengaluru is very embracing of the performing arts and welcoming of every form of art. They also come to watch not just as spectators but to engage with the very concept of the art, even if it is a dark subject”.
Being solo on stage, Shakti says, will not be a self-aggrandising gesture. The efficiency is a results of work by the author, the musician and the lighting designer. It will not be the glory of 1 particular person however a collective effort. It is definitely a humbling expertise.”
On March 2, at Swastika School of Dance and Music, Jakkur, 6.30pm. Tickets, ₹300 on BookMyShow. It is open to these aged 16 years and above.