One cannot talk about the radical shift in Indian theatre without thinking of the contributions of modern playwright Badal Sircar. Writing in the 1960s and ’70s in a post-Independence India, Sircar had introduced the idea of Third Theatre. He envisioned the possibility of plays that were “neither restricted by the costly and often immobile paraphernalia of the conventional proscenium theatre nor infested by the commerciality and outdated values of the folk theatre.” He wanted to break away from the boundaries between the actor and the spectator, and bring theatre to the streets.

Many of Sircar’s plays continue to be performed today in several languages across the country. Mumbai-based Swapnatara Collective has adapted one such play — Saararattir (All Night Longg) — originally written in Bengali. They will showcase it this weekend, and later in March.