WATER – Our Season Opener

MESSAGE FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Dear Patrons,

After a busy 2021-22 Season, we are back with three great plays for our 2022-23 Season. The first play, Water, is set in rural Bengal in the 1970s. Naxalism is on the rise and memories of the freedom movement are fading. The government machinery in rural areas merely serves the land-owning classes and those in power. It is against this backdrop that a dispute arises, between the upper castes and lower castes in a village, over access to water. And the story unfolds.

A compelling Indian story, Water is also an important story for the world. As climate change disrupts the world’s water supply, it is the most vulnerable sections of society that will bear the brunt of water scarcity. This play could very well presage the struggles that lie ahead in the poorer parts of the world. We will need all our wits and ingenuity to survive climate change. But most importantly, we will need to stay united and pull together.

Playwright Mahasweta Devi (1926-2016), is one of Bengal’s foremost modern writers. She was also a social activist and spent many years in the poor and tribal areas of Bengal. In a rare occurrence she has been the recipient of both, the Ramon Magsaysay award for her social activism and the Jnanpith award, India’s highest literary award. Most Indians will know her as the writer of the story based on which the movie Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa, starring Jaya Bhaduri, was made. 

After directing The Square Root of a Sonnet for BADCo last season, we are delighted to have Ranjita Chakravarty back in the director’s chair for Water. Many of you will know her from her recurring role as Nirmala paati (grandma) in Netflix's Never Have I Ever. We are grateful to her for jumping right into Water (she would say hot water!) after a grueling few weeks of shooting for NHIE. On top of her busy acting and directing schedule, she also has a full time job at Stanford! We are in awe. 

Ranjita, a Bengali herself, brings a certain sensitivity and authenticity to the production that makes this such a wonderful show.  She has taken a story of repression and without losing its essence, imbued it with energy, even joy.  Besides a beautiful set, colorful costumes and props, the show has  original music from singers in Purulia (where the play is set), and dances and stylized fights choreographed by accomplished dance director Sanjib Bhattacharya. Sanjib is a talented, award-winning dancer and dance director and we are fortunate to have him with us on this production . 

You'll enjoy Water. It is such a fitting show to open our 2022-23 season! Tickets are on sale now. 

Since this is the first show of our 2022-23 season, consider buying season tickets. We have three great shows lined up for you, this season. For $80, that’s a steal!

With best wishes,

Basab Pradhan
Artistic Director