Theatre on a new turf

Prithvi Theatre will be organising a unique venture at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse with a seven-day programme that includes plays by veterans like Naseeruddin Shah

Mumbai's theatre buffs have a new venue to drop by. Prithvi Theatre's new initiative will take theatre to Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC), to host Prithvi@theTurf, a seven-day programme.


Sir Sir Sarla 

Though, Prithvi Theatre has simultaneously run shows across theatres and parks in Mumbai, the Racecourse would be a first.

Kunal Kapoor, one of the trustees of Prithvi Theatre, reasons on the venue choice, "The Racecourse is centrally located and engages with all sections of Mumbai's population. The large open space lends itself to further engage with Mumbai's community by presenting live performing arts and theatre."

But the idea came with its quirk. Setting up a stage for each play can be a challenge. "In creating an open-air 'Pop-up Theatre', several hurdles emerge — particularly when trying to maintain Prithvi Theatre's intimacy.

The raised seating, lights and sound, make-up rooms and the backstage area have to be created from scratch. As it's outdoors, one can only set the lights at night, which means one has to light-up the night before the performance — which set a chain reaction — changing the lights after the evening performance for the next day's performance.

It will be a great learning curve," Kapoor reveals. "Continuing in our efforts to engage with people of our city, we are thrilled to support the performing arts along with equestrian sport," says Dr Ram H Shroff of RWITC.

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