The Team
Tamaasha Studio Foundation, an initiative of Tamaasha Theatre, one of Mumbai’s most exciting theatre companies that looks to engage audiences with a wide definition of theatre and the arts. It was founded by Sunil Shanbag and Sapan Saran in 2014 to explore new texts, ideas, and talent, to develop a deeper connect with audiences around smaller, intimate performance spaces, and to facilitate support systems for the larger theatre community.
Tamaasha Theatre is also a theatre making and touring company. Our productions have been seen at theatre festivals and venues across the country.After successfully collaborating with alternative spaces in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Pune and Chennai, Taamasha set up its own work and performance space Studio Tamaasha in 2017 in Mumbai.
Over six years Studio Tamaasha functioned as an intimate arts centre presenting a wide variety of curated arts events – theatre performances by young, and more established theatre companies from Mumbai, Pune, New Delhi, and Bangalore, dance theatre, live music from Indian classical and semi-classical traditions, presentation of outcomes of cultural research by practitioners and academics, explorations of language and literature, and curated film screenings. Studio Tamaasha was also used by theatre makers to develop new work in a supportive environment backed by our considerable experience in dramaturgy, theatre direction, music, writing, and production.
Tamaasha Team
Sapan Saran
Co-founder
Sapan Saran is a poet, writer, and director based in Mumbai. She is the co-founder of Tamaasha Theatre, Studio Tamaasha, and the UsPaar residency space.
Her association with theatre began with a collaboration with contemporary dancer Astad Deboo. Her first play as playwright, Club Desire, directed by Sunil Shanbag, produced by the NCPA and Theatre Arpana, was selected for Bharangam International Theatre Festival, 2015. In 2017 she was invited, along with UK based writer Sudha Buchar, by the National Theatre of Wales to write Sisters, a year long project on the lives of South Asian women, their histories and experiences. She is a recipient of the Tendulkar-Dubey Fellowship, 2018. In 2022-23, she directed a production for National Theatre, London’s youth theatre initiative, Connections India led by the NCPA. Her plays Same Same But Different, and Be-loved have received critical acclaim and are touring across the country. Her poems have been published in several Hindi magazines, including Sahitya Akademi’s Samkaleen Bharteeya Sahitya.
Sunil Shanbag
Co-founder
Sunil Shanbag is the co-founder and artistic director of Theatre Arpana, and Tamaasha Theatre. He has a body of work that spans 45 odd years as a theatre director, producer, dramaturg, teacher, and film maker.
Sunil’s work across various genres of theatre practice has been engaging with and presenting the complex nature of contemporary India, on stage as well as in various alternative performance spaces. His work spans across themes and issues that concern modern Indian society, across class, caste, gender and other inequalities. His work includes landmark productions such as Cotton 56, Polyester 84, Sex, Morality and Censorship, Stories in a Song, Loretta, and Words Have Been Uttered. His work is seen at major theatre festivals across the country, and has also been presented over two seasons at the Shakespeare Globe Theatre in London. He has been associated with Theater Freiburg in Germany as a senior artistic associate.
Sunil Shanbag was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi award for theatre direction, 2017.
Sarthak Chaskar
Associate
Sarthak Chaskar has been practicing theatre in Mumbai for the past 8 years. He has been actively involved in writing, directing, and acting. Sarthak has been involved in children’s theatre training and has directed children’s plays with active support from NGOs. His interests lie in spreading awareness in the form of drama. He has been a part of Tamaasha Theatre for 4 years.
Vaishnavi Swami
Programming Associate
Vaishnavi Swami has been learning dance from the age of 5, and it was dance that encouraged her to turn to theatre and to participate in school skits and plays. She completed a BA in Theater Studies from Christ University, Bangalore. Along with studies she actively interned and worked with various theatre institutions like Kahevidushak Foundation, and Ranga Shankra in Bangalore.
She also took part in Thespo, the youth theatre festival produced by QTP, as stage manager and that helped her imagine a career in theatre management. She began working with Tamaasha Studio Foundation in 2023.
Ganesh Sonavane
Production & Accounts
Ganesh has been associated with Tamaasha since its inception, and with Theatre Arpana for over 20 years. His varied skills in theatre production, administration, accounts, video editing, and technical support make him a vital part of Tamaasha Theatre.
Us Paar Team
UsPaar is run by the unwavering dedication and support of the local team who make UsPaar what it is. They help artists using the UsPaar transit from the frenzy of city life into the calmer UsPaar rhythm, and set up a safe and caring environment for artistic exploration
Santosh Satamkar
Caretaker & Head Chef
Santosh Satamkar is caretaker and chef at UsPaar, and responsible for keeping the space running. His warm personality and helpful ways makes UsPaar a welcoming space for every visitor. He is a skilled cook and is able to turn out delicious home cooked meals in quick time. Santosh is an animal lover and takes loving care of UsPaar’s cats, dogs, and poultry.
Shashikala Santosh Satamkar
Head Support & Sous-Chef
Shashikala Santosh Satamkar is sous chef and responsible for maintaining UsPaar’s common spaces which includes the workspace, the dining area and the kitchen. She also helps Santosh with the kitchen.
Malti Gond
Housekeeping Staff
Malti Gond looks after all housekeeping functions at UsPaar and plays a major role during all residencies in preparing rooms for visitors and ensuring that visitors are comfortable during their stay at UsPaar.
Us Paar Mascots
UsPaar is an animal friendly space and is incomplete without its mascots.
Daante & Mumsie
Daante and Mumsie are our beloved companions at UsPaar. They came to UsPaar looking for a safe space, like many strays, uncared for dogs do, and they have stayed on occupying a special place at UsPaar. Daante is fiercely independent, while Mumsie likes nothing better to roll over in abject surrender while asking for a belly rub. They can be mischievous too. Daante in known to run away with a visitor’s footwear inviting a frantic chase. Mumsie is Head of Happiness. Her mission … spread love, via a belly rub.
Nimboo & Ghappu
Nimboo and Ghappu are the dynamic duo at UsPaar. They strutted in as regular strays, seeking a cozy corner, but swiftly clawed their way up to the top as the 2 CEOs (Cat Executive Officers). From overseeing nap schedules to maintaining the sacred balance of the scratching post, Nimboo and Ghappu’s presence at UsPaar is just purr-fect. Although beware, they might trick you into their cute meow’s in the dining area to feed them. Don’t fall into it, they are well fed and taken care of by Santosh, who even calls Nimboo his own daughter. Nimboo recently gave birth to a lovely litter. Together, they orchestrate the harmonious purring symphony that envelops UsPaar.