Tradition and Modernity in Contemporary Theatre

Tradition and Modernity in Contemporary Theatre

A Conversation with Sharanya Ramprakash, Laya N Kumar and Parshathy J Nath

Moderated by Lakshmana KP 

The traditions with which contemporary urban Indian theatre artists can engage are immense, embracing mythologies, folk tales and performances, art and craft objects and practices, festivals and rituals, cuisine, inherited knowledge and skills, and much else besides. At the same time, the distinction between the traditional and the modern is not clearcut. Modern theatre in India has a history that stretches back for over two centuries — long enough to develop its own traditions. Dance forms now regarded as ‘classical’ acquired modern practices of teaching, performance and patronage in the last century. 

The theatre artists in this session will speak about their idea of tradition and how they have interacted with it in the plays they have written, directed or performed. They will also be invited to discuss…