Theatre Speaks

Akshat Nigam
Actor, Writer
[English Theatre ]
Which is the last best play you saw?
STORIES IN A SONG, directed by Sunil Shanbag.

Your favourite �adda� to see a play?
Experimental Theatre, NCPA

Your favourite playwright?
William Shakespeare

Your favourite play-character
Rosalind from Shakespeare�s AS YOU LIKE IT.

A novel/short story you would like to see on stage? Why?
Beloved by Toni Morrison

A play, which is over-hyped?
BAKED BEANS ON TOAST, directed by Lillete Dubey.

A play character you would like to �dialogue� with?
Doctor Faustus from the play THE TRAGICAL HISTORY OF THE LIFE AND DEATH OF DOCTOR FAUSTUS written by Christopher Marlowe.

A passage from an important play that you can recite?
"Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow..." from MACBETH.

A play that changed your perception about the theatre
C FOR CLOWN, directed by Rajat Kapoor.

How do you regard the Mumbai theatre scene?
Always looking for new writing, which is a good sign that it's youthful and experimental. This also sometimes allows for plays with weak writing or superficial themes. The lack of training in the actors shows, at times. Only a few pull off a memorable performance.

If you have ever been a part of a theatre production/s, can you recall an event that was insightful, significant or simply humorous?
In 2004 I was a college student who was inexplicably selected for a role in Alyque Padamsee's PENIS DIALOGUES (later shortened to P DIALOGUES) - a rejoinder to VAGINA MONOLOGUES that had recently come to India. I played a man and his penis. I still insist it was a double role.

Life in the theatre without the humble batata-wada or the cutting chai� or can you recall the best gastronomic experience you�ve had in the precincts of the theatre to date?
I've watched Prithvi Cafe slowly change from an addawhere poor or struggling, skilled or inspired theatre artists would strut about in worn kurtas and dunk suleimani chai to a hip joint where wealthy college students and successful young advertising copywriters strut about in chic getups and have nachos and cheese. I'm quite sure I'd rather be a wealthy college kid than an actor.

 
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