Going Solo: Only YOU are everything
Engaging the audience is an art, something which is definitely not god gifted. When you perform in a group, people would not concentrate only on you. I know you all love to be in focus of the audience but think about it, what if there is no chance of covering up your mistake or you forget your lines or the prop makes a mess? You might never want to walk up the stage again, right? The artists of Going Solo, the only international theatre festival of the nation, do that every time they perform. Doesn’t that give you jitters? Well, to me it does definitely.
In the beautiful arrangements of Taj Mahal HoteL, New Delhi, A.Kameshwari from One World News had an opportunity to get a knack about solo act and to speak to the mind behind Going Solo, Sanjoy Roy- the Managing Director of Teamwork Arts and Rob Lynes- the Director of British Council. All set to weave the magic from October 9th, Going Solo is an initiative brought by the Teamwork Arts and British Council to display the power and the meaning of one man show. The show would witness the award winning and extra-ordinary solo acts performed by the celebrated international artists- Guy Masterson, Jaye Grifiiths and Robert Softley Gale.
Guy Masterson- performer of solo act called ‘Shylock’, 2nd pic: Sanjoy Roy- Managing Director, Teamwork Arts
Speaking on the occasion, Sanjoy Roy said, “Fourteen years ago, when I first went to Edinburgh Festival, one of the incredible new genres of theatre was the solo performance. The one-man act is ought to be one of the toughest forms of theatrical performances because it is just that one person on stage who is trying to transport the audience into a different space and time, weaving a magic which is only possible by an incredible writer, actor and superb direction.
Having seen such performance since years, I was very keen to showcase this international theatre in India and that is how we came about the idea. Going Solo was started last year and I met Guy Masterson some fourteen years back, who is an incredible actor, director and script writer, who himself has performed for about 5000 shows. Rahila wrote a true story, in fact a ballad about her own disabled son which is played by Jaye Grifiiths and last but not the least is Robert Softley Gale who himself is a disabled person and would narrate/enact a story about disability.
There is also a reason why we have chose to get two stories that has something to do with disability, which is that it is UN year for disability, so we were very keen to look disability from both side- one performing his story and other narrating incidences that she has witnessed in her life. And beyond everything, both are stories of love.”
(L to R)Satyajeet Krishnan (General Manager, TajMahal Hotel), Vivek Mansukhani (British Council), Rob Lynes (Director of British Council)
Speaking about what he feels is lacking in India’s theatre, Sanjoy Roy says, “Theatre is my soul and my first love and I have been an actor too. However, it would be difficult for me to compare the western and Indian theatre. Good theatres are good theatres irrespective of where they come from and I believe there is no language for theatre.
However, it is important for us to understand that none of us start doing theatre with a thought of being bad. There are theatres like Company Theatre, Act One etc. and many other who have been doing amazing work.
Our culture has so many forms theatre, coming from different backgrounds. In fact our film industry has developed from Tamasha, a musical theatre. In India, a theatre company is made with existence of 300 people who necessarily do not want to be a prop or move a prop. Everyone here wants to be the face of the act. Our tradition has been different but now we can witness some amazing solo Indian acts in theatres and that is why we have got it in India now. And if I have to describe the performance of the artists participating in Going Solo, then I would say it is par-excellence.”
The theatre festival is a fine example of Teamwork’s deep understanding of traditional and contemporary performing arts. This second edition of the annual festival adds another feather in the cap of Teamwork Arts who produce twenty-three festival in twelve countries in twenty-one cities including the world’s largest literary gathering- The Zee Jaipur Literature Festival and Hay Festival in Kerala.
Further wishing luck to the performers, Rob Lynes said, “We are delighted that we are going to work with Shylock, the famous character from Shakespeare’s Merchant Of Venice. And over the next two years, British Council would celebrate the death anniversary of Shakespere around the world and in India we would be working in a very interesting program regarding the same. The Robert’s act is going to talk about the disadvantages of being disabled, about equality for performers and audiences as well and we are happy that we would be showcasing two performances talking about it this season. We wish them best of luck and hope to get a great response.”
The show is indeed going to be a must experience. In fact, one is going to miss something really exciting and enthralling moments of their lives if they miss out on this one. Go solo or go with your loved ones, but be a part of this magic which is promising enough to give you goose bumps till you leave the auditorium.
