‘First supper’ for theatre buffs in Chennai

KV Siddhartha, the director of the production, talks about how theatre is getting a dramatic makeover in terms of presentation and concept. “There is an impressive shift in the way audience perceives theatre these days. They are game for surreal and avant-garde theatre and are on the lookout for engaging plays and productions.  Moreover, space also matters these days,” says Siddhartha. 

SheHe Korma will be staged by Coimbatore-based Black Box Theatre and Coimbatore Art and Theatrical Society (CATS). 

“Audience’s attention span is getting reduced and they prefer variety to a single theme. Also, if you notice,  the footfalls at major theatre venues are dwindling by the day. They are looking for more intimate, smaller space. That’s how we came up with the idea of dinner and a show type of theatre. 

Called supper theatre, it is a staged play combined with a restaurant meal. The whole setting is informal and there is a lot more takeaway for the viewers,” he explains. This is the first time CATS is entering a metro and the team is both nervous and excited. 

“We have been waiting for the right time to enter Chennai with this unique concept. But, didn’t want to showcase a runof-the-mill story, the genre should be offbeat and unique. 

The three short plays — Milk Account, The Key and In Search of Truth have been selected from the book The Tamil Story which carries a selection of 88 short stories translated from Tamil into English by Subashree Krishnaswamy. 

These stories revolve around everyday instances between a husband and wife,” explains the director. Set design has always been a vital part of a theatre production, but supper theatre doesn’t really demand a background. 

Siddhartha says, “While performing in Coimbatore, audience accepted this format for the acting and dramatic effect of the storyline. They aren’t really bothered about the audio-visual effects or costumes of the actors. I hope Chennaiites will love this type of theatre. 

From the producer’s point of view, the production cost is minimal.” The director has assured to avoid audience fatigue by making SheHe Korma  a more interactive one. 

“Well, we want to give audience food for thought and want to know their perspective as well,” he remarks. The play will be staged on April 16, from 7 pm onwards at The Residency Towers.