February 2023
Mentors: Shanta Gokhale(Mumbai), Rajeev Naik(Mumbai), Aditya Nigam(Delhi), Vaibhav Abnave(Pune) and Deepa Ganesh(Bangalore) will be leading the sessions.
4 playwrights who had a draft of their new play, were invited to be a part of the workshop. These playwrights read their plays to a cohort of 7-8 senior playwrights, writers, academics, theatre directors and actors. These were then discussed in great detail and insightful feedback given to the playwrights around the ideas of the plays, matters of craft, and context.
There was ample time for open conversations and these often spilled into informal spaces around meal times.
A high point for the playwrights was when theatre directors worked with actors on selected scenes from their plays. The structure of the workshop was intensive and designed to support the playwrights in different ways.
The plan of action for each play in this workshop unfolds as a carefully curated and immersive experience. At 4 pm on the first evening, participants engage in the initial exploration of a freshly written play, sparking immediate reactions and lively discussions. Informal conversations persist over dinner, fostering a collaborative atmosphere.
The following day, starting from 10 am, the play undergoes a transformative journey through three distinctive sessions led by different mentors, each contributing unique perspectives and insights. The culmination arrives with a session led by a seasoned theatre director, who collaborates with actors to bring the play to life, culminating in a sharing session. The day concludes with further informal discussions over dinner.
The subsequent morning allows the playwright dedicated time to refine and incorporate suggestions, presenting their revised thoughts, ideas, and scenes around noon. This meticulous process ensures a dynamic and iterative approach to the creative development of each play. The cycle then repeats, commencing with the reading of the next play at 4 pm, fostering a continuous and enriching creative exchange.
