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The Art of Acknowledging the Art of Theatre

What is it that drives us to dedicate an entire lifetime to the art of theatre? Actors, designers, directors, playwrights, technicians, executives, administrators, organizers all of us come together to immerse ourselves in the demanding process of making theatre. Why?

It is my belief that we enjoy doing what we are doing, because nothing puts us in the present moment with a group of people the way theatre does. It is this constant acknowledgment that we are alive together in this time and place that drives us on. Together we create an imagined world that closely mirrors our real world, perhaps more truthfully. In these moments of wholehearted presence, we acknowledge ourselves as human beings capable of feeling, thinking and imagining.  To us on the performing side, this acknowledgment reaches us through laughter, tears, applause, wonderment, reflection, silence, and sometimes even offense. Nothing can come close to this acknowledgment that we are together and we are all richly gifted to experience life as we receive it moment by moment. This gift belongs to both the performers and the spectators.

Nothing can truly beat the thrill of being here and now as we share time and space with audiences. If there is anything that comes a close second to the magic of this immediacy in the theatre, it is the acknowledgment of our endeavours in the form of an award. Many artists will say in defense that “awards don’t mean a thing”. We are only fooling ourselves.  Artists are human, intensely human and so we seek validation like every other human being.

In traditional Indian society, we live and breathe art. To us, Art is about participation. Modern India has a lot to learn from traditional India. Politicians are quick to exploit this need. Art never exploits. It engages the soul. Over the last century, our traditions have given way to modernity in the most positive way. This is truly reflected in the way contemporary art forms have emerged. Today, in the diversity of Indian theatre, we see influences from all over the world. Today, our world is more globally interactive than it ever has been in the history of mankind. This must find reflection in our theatre as well and most often it does with an astonishing force. When I say influences from all over the world, it also includes influences of our own past.

As a theatre practitioner, I am proud to be alive in the 21st century, being a witness to great changes. It is this change and innovation that we acknowledge with awards and citations, apart from individual accomplishment. To constantly live in the moment is also to acknowledge and embrace change.  I am also proud to be associated with META over the years as it truly possesses the art of acknowledging the art of theatre.

Mahesh Dattani
Selection Committee, META 2014

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