‘I have tea as well as coffee, and of course, they are different, they have to be, that is why we are having both. The same is the case with theatre and cinema,' says Manav Kaul.
At the risk of sounding hackneyed, let me start by quoting a famous quote by William Shakespeare because, in my defence, The Bard Of Avon is anything but trite, especially when the topic at hand is theatre. “All the world's a stage,” he said, “and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts.”
One of the most prominent performing arts, theatre is a powerful craft that draws a connection between the spectator and the performer, unlike any other art form. Indian theatre is one of the most ancient forms of theatre in the world, and has observed an extensive influence across borders.
Today, as we celebrate the art of theatre, it is essential to understand its spirit that lies in collaboration and experiencing a trajectory of themes and people that are beyond our sphere of influence.Â
On the occasion of World Theatre Day, Firstpost spoke to theatre director, actor, playwright, author, poet, and filmmaker Manav Kaul about his work in theatre as well as what it means to be an artist. Excerpts from the interview are as follows.Â
What does theatre mean to you, as an artist, and even more so, as a person?Â
Iâve been doing theatre for a long time. The first play I did was in 1994, and from then on, it has been this art for me that Iâve grown to love because Iâve been doing theatre for most of my adult life, so by now, it is almost like a part of me. As for me, in every city that I go to, I make it a point to attend a play first. I am in Delhi right now, and Iâve already been to two plays. London, Paris, New York, you name the place, and the first thing I do after going there is watch a play because for me, theatre in every corner of the world is…