Adishakti (Auroville, India) @ Holding Space : PFS5
5 to 7 Feb:
Source of Performance Energy workshop
(registration required)
5 to 7 Feb:
Movement Workshop for students of Dakshini Prayash (closed door)
Our opening week features the amazing Adishakti Laboratory for Theatre Art Research from Auroville. Founded by Veenapani Chawla in 1981, Adishakti believes that moving past disciplines out of their original contexts can reveal new, previously unrecognized elements. They view the contemporary performer as a critical interpreter who reexamines and expands upon traditional forms and stories. Their work spans both intercultural and intra-cultural spaces based on the subtle interconnectedness among diverse peoples, places, and knowledge systems, and engages with multiple disciplines. Adishakti productions vividly bring together dance, movement and emotional craft, integrated into one performance language. The company’s aesthetic concerns are centered on creating and nurturing these mixed or hybrid spaces.
Public Engagements
5 to 7 February ’25 | Source of Performance Energy
an intensive workshop with Adishakti
The Urban Theatre Project
10 am – 1 pm
Workshop Fee: Rs. 3,000/-
(Rs. 2,000/- early bird offer till 19 January 2025)
This intensive workshop is ideal for those with some experience in dance and theatre. Drawing on Adishakti’s unique performance practice, participants will be trained in patterns of breathing to generate emotions, understanding the origin and energy of sound and voice in the body, and a conscious awareness of rhythm. More information here
8 February ’25 | Urmila
contemporary theatre performance from Auroville
G. D. Birla Sabhagar
7pm
Tickets: Rs. 700/- 500/- 300/- 200/-
Urmila is a thought-provoking play that delves into the complex ethical and gender-related issues that have been woven into the fabric of society throughout history. The play centres on the character of Urmila from the Ramayana, a woman whose life is dramatically altered by a seemingly innocuous command from her husband, Lakshmana: “Sleep, my sleep.” This deceptively simple directive raises profound questions about autonomy, consent, and the price individuals, especially women, have paid for their obedience throughout time.
Closed Door
5 to 7 February ’25 | Arts4All
a workshop with students of Dakshini Prayash
Dakshini Prayash
3.30 pm – 5.30 pm
In our continuing relationship with Dakshini Prayash, Adishakti will work with children from classes 7 to 9 in a three-day workshop exploring rhythm, movement and storytelling. This is part of our Arts4All programme geared towards NGO schools and marginalised communities.
Meet the Artists
Nimmy Raphel is a multifaceted performer, dancer, and theatre practitioner based at Adishakti, where she has been a resident actor, dancer, musician, and puppeteer since 2001. Trained in Mohiniyattam and Kuchipudi at Kerala Kalamandalam (1995-2001), Nimmy has performed across India and internationally. She has been a key performer in Adishakti’s productions such as Brhannala, Ganapati, The Hare and The Tortoise, and Rhinoceros, and has also contributed as a lighting operator for Impressions of Bhima since 2008.A recipient of prestigious fellowships, including the APPEX Fellowship (2010), the Junior Fellowship from the Ministry of Culture (2012-13), and the Vinod Doshi Fellowship (2014) and the prestigious Shankar Nag award in 2022. Nimmy has also written and directed Nidrawathwam(2011), Bali (2018), Urmila (2023) and He-rose in 2023. She is currently performing in Bhoomi, written and directed by Vinay Kumar. And Urmila written and directed by herself.
Vinay Kumar is the Artistic Director of Adishakti leading the team in its quest for continued in-depth research, new performance creation and inculcation of Adishakti’s methodology amongst new generations of actors.
Primarily, Vinay is an actor and also a writer, director, light and sound designer, choreographer and composer. Currently he is also one of the most sought after teachers of performance craft.
For Vinay theatre became a way of life since early childhood. Feeling the need for some formal training, Vinay joined the School of Drama, Kerala where he excelled in performance and direction. In his interactions with Veenapani Chawla he found that his own explorations were aligned with hers so began Vinay’s engagement with Adishakti since its early years.
To embellish the tools available to contemporary performers, Vinay along with Veenapani, started researching into the use of breath, voice and centres in the actors body. This led to the evolution of a unique performance methodology which Vinay shares to this day in his direction and his teaching.
Subbu is a performing artist currently working at Adishakti Laboratory for Theatre Art & Research. With a Master’s in Performing Arts (Drama and Theatre), Subbu is a versatile artist trained as a Therukoothu performer. His expertise spans acting, dancing, mime, directing, and writing, making him a multifaceted contributor to the performing arts.
In addition to his theatrical pursuits, Subbu is a licensed Zumba fitness instructor, blending movement and rhythm seamlessly into his practice. Over the years, he has been a part of multiple theatre productions and dance performances. Currently, he is performing music for Adishakti’s celebrated productions Urmila, Brhannala, and Nidravatwam.
Sooraj S. is a performer, juggler and percussionist. Sooraj has formally trained as a dancer with Jaan R Freeman of the Freeman Repertory, USA. This resulted in a showcase with Freeman in 2014. He has since, been a freestyle dancer doing movement choreography for productions and dance pieces. He has worked as an editor of catalogue books for IDFFK (International Documentary Film Festival Kerala) in 2017 and 2018. Sooraj moved to Adishakti to train in 2018. He is now part of the cast in Adishakti’s productions; an Indo-French Collaboration between Adishakti and Ensatt Lyon in France, and has performed nationally and internationally with the productions. He disseminates notions of bridging rhythm and performance in the language of played rhythm in Adishakti’s SOPE sessions. He has given voice for the advertisement industry and also has worked in training director B Jayashree’s actors for Spandana Theatre’s production Parijata.
Subodha Subrahmanya is a performance artist, light designer, photographer and production designer currently based out of Adishakti Laboratory for Theatre Art and Research, Pondicherry.
He started his journey with theatre in Bengaluru with Bangalore Little Theatre in 2013 and has since worked with various groups, notably Guduguppukari, Citizens of Stage Collective, Radha Kalpa Dance Company, Attakalari, Our Theatre Collective and many others.
Along with his work at Adishakti, he considers himself as an artist working to bring about a voice in the Indian society for self-exploration, sexual expression, and learning through experience, with his projects (both individual and collaborations with his partner aPurpleHeart) using various tools of theatre and visual media to talk about the politics of the body, socio-cultural impacts on relationships, sexuality, sexual expression, and an exploration into the aesthetics of a male nude body.
Arvind Rane has a BA in Economics & Politics from Mumbai University. He has been Creative Supervisor in Advertising Agencies like Shilpi, O&M, Ulka, Contract, Lintas and RK Swamy from 1981-1997, while he was in Mumbai. Concurrently he was with Adishakti during its Mumbai phase from 1981 to 1992. He rejoined Adishakti in 1998. He is currently a senior resident performer in Adishakti and is also in charge of Adishakti’s Public Relations.
Arvind has performed with Adishakti in Brhannala, Ganapati and Bali at various venues both national and international. He also performs in Adishakti’s The Hare and The Tortoise and Rhinoceros. From 2008 he was part of the team which performs in Impressions of Bhima. Arvind disseminates Adishakti’s method of linking performance to rhythm through workshops held at Adishakti. Arvind is one of the cast members of Adishakti’s latest play Bhoomi.
