Attend A 10-Day Residential Theatre Workshop On The Outskirts Of Auroville

The world over people have credited theatre for its ability to empower; in dramatic performance, social engagement or personal development. Keeping this transformative power of theatre at its forefront is the theatre group ‘Adishakti’. Established in 1981 and founded by global theatre stalwart Veenapani Chawla, Adishakti heavily draws its sensibilities from ancient indigenous art forms like Koodiyattam, Dhrupad singing, Kalaripayattu, Asanas, Pranayama, Samavedic chanting and marries it to voice training and other performance techniques from the West; Eugenio Barba’s Odin Theatre in Denmark and the Royal Shakespeare Company in the UK.

This performance art laboratory, research centre and residency is located in the outskirts of Auroville; Pondicherry believes that the traditional indigenous artist is its partner in dialogue. Which means that the contemporary performer is privileged and it is its task to reinterpret (not merely restore and preserve) the traditional art forms. By this approach Adishakti has created their own language for contemporary performance which reflects a unique pluralistic aesthetic.

If you have been lucky enough to see any of Adishakti’s riveting performances one thing is clear; shedding all paraphernalia they have a strong and rooted understanding of their physical craft. As an actor if you are looking to enrich your performance in a similar way their 10-day theatre residency workshop ‘Source of Performance Energy’ is one you should be looking at.

The workshop with its rigorous 12 hour schedule aims to impart the participants with a new performance methodology developed by Adishakti: breath, emotion, rhythm, centres and voice. From yoga, Kalaripayattu and intricate eye exercises this is a rare opportunity for a truly committed artist to re-invent their performance, in the simplistic and vibrant atmosphere of Auroville, by learning from one of the most formidable theatre groups in the country.

The workshop currently costs INR 45,000. To apply and know more details about the workshop click here.

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