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Up & Coming - Schedule of plays in June

Wednesday, 1st June
Prithvi Theatre – 9pm: DINNER WITH FRIENDS

This is a play about four friends; two married couples. We see both couples at different ages and stages of their lives, and we witness the effects of the breakup of one couple on the other, who first feel compelled to choose sides, and then begin to question the strength of their own seemingly tranquil marriage.

NCPA Experimental – 7:30pm: ADHE ADHURE
A tragic comedy about marriage, this brilliant classic that broke the bounds of Hindi theatre in the ‘60s, remains an incisive portrayal, even today, of contemporary society and a middle class family on the brink of collapse.
Thursday, 2nd June
Bhavan’s Chowpatty Theatre – 4pm: ARMS AND THE MAN
With the conviction that children should not be exposed only to low comedy in the theatre, Motley is attempting Bernard Shaw's satire on war and heroism.

NCPA Experimental – 7:30pm: ADHE ADHURE
Savitri, a middle-aged woman, is dissatisfied with her circumstances – an unemployed son, an unsettled newly married daughter, a rebellious teenager, and above all, a husband who has failed to provide her emotional and financial security. She seeks to fulfill herself in relationships outside marriage, only to realise that men are the same beneath different faces. The play explores the themes of incompleteness at the individual and social level with humour and uncanny insight.

Prithvi Theatre – 9pm: S*X, M*RALITY AND CENS*RSHIP

The play flashes back to the early‘70s when Vijay Tendulkar’s classic, Sakharam Binder, set off a storm of controversy in the theatre scene and was attacked by the state, and by sections of our society. Using an exciting mix of theatre, illusion, memory, music, dance, and film the show provokes, challenges, and asks the questions – who says NO! ? and why?

Friday, 3rd June
Bhavan’s Chowpatty Theatre – 4pm: A SPECIAL BOND

A boy from the city goes on a journey to an ancestral world in a hill station, where he has many adventures and makes new and interesting friends. Peppered with song, dance, and lots of laughs, A Special Bond transports the audience into another world, and is an exciting, enjoyable and special experience for children of all ages.

NCPA Experimental – 7:30pm: ADHE ADHURE
With Rajendra Gupta, Lillete Dubey, Ira Dubey, Rajeev Siddhartha and Anuschka Sawhney.

Prithvi Theatre – 9pm: S*X, M*RALITY AND CENS*RSHIP

With Nagesh Bhonsle, Gitanjali Kulkarni, Shubhrojyoti Barat, Ketaki Thatte, Rajashree Wad, Hridaynath Jadhav, Umesh Jagtap, Gulshan Devaiah and Puja Swaroop.

Saturday, 4th June
Prithvi Theatre – 11am: TWO BLIND MICE
The play is an adaptation of scene 1 of Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot”. Vladimir and Estragon wait under a tree for a person named Godot. While they wait, they sing, dance, talk about random things, play games, argue and meet Pozzo and Lucky, who are passing through. The question is will Godot ever arrive?

Bhavan’s Chowpatty Theatre – 4pm: WONDERLAND – THE ALICE AND DON QUIXOTE STORY

Wonderland is a combination of two well-known and enthralling tales. Alice, an adventurous little girl, and Don Quixote, a day dreaming, middle-aged Spanish gentleman, meet each other in the Queen’s Palace. Their exciting story unfolds as they set out to destroy the ego of Manhattan’s king and queen.

Bhavan's Chowpatty Theatre – 7pm: KABIR
A Shilpkar Presentation

NCPA Experimental – 7:30pm: ADHE ADHURE
A Primetime Theatre Presentation.

Prithvi Theatre – 6 & 9pm: STORIES IN A SONG

Accounts of music-making in India, and stories of the struggles and hardships faced by musicians both real and imaginary lay the foundation for a collage of dramatised episodes that belnd theatre, music and literature. Several forms of theatre in India make evident use of music but Stories in a Song takes the help of theatre to tell stories of musical forms such as Kajri, Thumri-Dadra, Khayal, re-mixes, and more.


Godrej Dance Theatre – 5 & 7:30pm: APPLES AND WALNUTS

This play, set in Mumbai with a backdrop of Kashmir, portrays the catharsis of two mothers who have lost their sons to a meaningless war.

Sunday, 5th June
Bhavan’s Chowpatty Theatre – 4pm: A SPECIAL BOND PART 2
The boy of Part 1 heads back to the hills for a new set of crazy adventures. He meets old friends and makes new ones. And while dealing with ghosts, a leopard, a bear, his hilarious friends and a crazy queen, he falls in love for the very first time!

Bhavan's Chowpatty Theatre – 7pm: SAAT TERI EKVEES
A Manhar Gadhia Presentation


NCPA Experimental – 7:30pm: ADHE ADHURE
A tragic comedy about marriage, this brilliant classic that broke the bounds of Hindi theatre in the ‘60s, remains an incisive portrayal, even today, of contemporary society and a middle class family on the brink of collapse.

Prithvi Theatre – 6 & 9pm: STORIES IN A SONG

Directed by Sunil Shanbag.

Tata Theatre – 7pm: DINNER WITH FRIENDS
This is a play about four friends; two married couples. We see both couples at different ages and stages of their lives, and we witness the effects of the breakup of one couple on the other, who first feel compelled to choose sides, and then begin to question the strength of their own seemingly tranquil marriage.
 
Godrej Dance Theatre –
7pm: KORAT
What the law labels as a brutal murder, for him was just a rational way to end an individual’s agony. He had killed his father, rather a patient of carcinoma of lungs in his last stage pleading for death every day. His poor house awaited the uninvited guest by the name of death, which was already on its way.

Monday, 6th June

Bhavan’s Chowpatty Theatre – 4pm: LADDOO GOPAL
Seth Laddoo Gopal was known for his miserly ways in Khajoorgarh. He was not only a miser but also a very deceptive person. One day, the villagers saw a change in his behaviour. People were foxed. What could it be? Was he for real or…?

Tuesday, 7th June
Bhavan’s Chowpatty Theatre – 4pm: TWO BLIND MICE

The play is an adaptation of scene 1 of Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot”. Vladimir and Estragon wait under a tree for a person named Godot. While they wait, they sing, dance, talk about random things, play games, argue and meet Pozzo and Lucky, who are passing through. The question is will Godot ever arrive?

Prithvi Theatre – 6 & 9pm: ME, GRANDAD ‘AD AN ELEPHANT
The story revolves around the growing pains of a young Muslim-Malayali girl in a society of conflicts and is set against a backdrop of implied criticisms of outdated Muslim customs, an appeal to live in the present, an abundance of comedy and breathtaking Kerala. The play attempts to understand this shy girl who is at the centre of human life, a community, a village in North Malabar.

Wednesday, 8th June
Bhavan’s Chowpatty Theatre – 4pm: KYUN KYUN LADKI

How often do children ask questions and actually get answers from adults? And how often do adults enter the magical world of questions? A performance that celebrates the thrill of ‘WHY?’ A story of three children performed through dance and movement.

Prithvi Theatre – 6 & 9pm: ME, GRANDAD ‘AD AN ELEPHANT

Directed by Digvijay Savant.

Thursday, 9th June
Bhavan’s Chowpatty Theatre – 4pm: ONCE UPON A TIGER!
Will fairy tales in the near future begin, “Once Upon a Tiger …! Will the tiger too be heard of only in stories, never to be seen again? The tiger is dying – what does that mean to us? The play takes you to the jungle in search of the missing tiger.

Prithvi Theatre – 6 & 9pm: ME, GRANDAD ‘AD AN ELEPHANT

A Not Quite There & HI9H-POT-IN-USE-TRI-AN9LE Presentation.

Friday, 10th June
Prithvi Theatre – 5:30 & 7:30pm: THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES
Eve Ensler’s Obie award winning play was written after interviewing 200 women from all over the world, the play brings about an awareness of abuse towards women and the message is clear...silence = death !

Saturday, 11th June
Prithvi Theatre – 11am: KYUN KYUN LADKI
How often do children ask questions and actually get answers from adults? And how often do adults enter the magical world of questions? A performance that celebrates the thrill of ‘WHY?’ A story of three children performed through dance and movement.

Bhavan’s Chowpatty Theatre – 4pm: MUMMY TU AAVI KEVI?
Thoroughly fed up with their mother’s traditional habits, her children try to introduce her to the modern ways of life. Though she does not wish to change, she pretends to give in to please her children. Initially, the children are satisfied with the result, but slowly they begin to realize that they preferred their mother the way she originally was. The tables turn, as the mother returns to her ways and makes a few changes in her children’s lifestyles.

Prithvi Theatre – 5:30 & 7:30 & 9:30pm: THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES
With Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal, Jayati Bhatia, Dolly Thakore, Sonali Sachdev and Avantika Akerkar.
 
NCPA Experimental Theatre – 7:30pm: FAMOUS LAST WORDS
Anil Shah is a critically acclaimed writer. The problem is, he hasn’t written a word in five years. Instead, living off his fading fame, he’s cutting a swathe through society with a glass in one hand and a girl on each arm. Faced with an unexpected turn of events, he finds his only help comes from his ex-wife, Sandy. But the help comes with a catch: to clean up his act and finish the novel he promised his publishers five years ago.

Sunday, 12th June
Prithvi Theatre – 11am: SUAR CHALA SPACE KO

A hilarious play about a smelly pig who travels to outer space!! The story touches upon friendship, adventure, owning up to your mistakes and taking responsibility, and of course the ‘swine flu’!

Bhavan’s Chowpatty Theatre – 4pm: MAMTAZ BHAI PATAANGWALE
There was nothing that Bikki loved more than to fly kites. And there was no one he idolized more than Mamtaz Bhai, the greatest kite-flyer in the world! Theirs was a story of love, hatred, jealousy and revenge. But that’s an old story. Vivek is a grown man. Mamtaz Bhai is old. And little Bikki burnt to ashes many years ago.

Prithvi Theatre – 5:30 & 7:30 & 9:30pm: THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES
A Poor Box Presentation.

Bhavan's Chowpatty Theatre – 7pm: MAREEZ
An Ideas Unlimited Presentation
 
NCPA Experimental Theatre – 7:30pm: FAMOUS LAST WORDS
Written by Anish Trivedi. Directed by Dipika Roy.

Tata Theatre – 7pm: TUMHARI AMRITA
Theatre veterans Shabana Azmi and Farooque Shaikh read the love letters written by their characters to each other, over a span of 35 years.
 
Tuesday, 14th June
Prithvi Theatre – 9pm: BUTTER AND MASHED BANANA
Between three actors in real life and three characters on stage, there is a frenzy of activity ranging from International best sellers to Oscar winning films, instant stardom and conflicting ideologies.Interspersed with live (original) music and dance the play tangentially takes digs at ideology and censorship, among other things.

Wednesday, 15th June
Prithvi Theatre – 7 & 9pm: BUTTER AND MASHED BANANA
A Harami Theatre Presentation.

Thursday, 16th June
Prithvi Theatre – 9pm: STILL LIFE
The search for meaning, understanding & Love....& the mystery called life!

Friday, 17th June
NCPA Experimental Theatre – 7pm: THE CLASS ACT
This play is based in an acting class conducted by Mr William. The students come from different religious, caste and class backgrounds and have conflicting views on almost everything. Through these “actors”, the play hopes to depict the pitiful situation of how we still don't know how to co-exist peacefully.

Prithvi Theatre – 9pm: STILL LIFE

Directed by Salim Ghouse.

Saturday, 18th June
Prithvi Theatre – 11am: KABULIWALLA
A trader from Kabul comes to Hindusthan to earn some money because his daughter is unwell. While trying to sell his wares on the streets of Hindusthan, he befriends a little girl called Mini. Though Mini's parents are a little apprehensive of their daughter's friendship with the kabuliwala, the two become very close.

NCPA Experimental Theatre – 7pm: THE CLASS ACT
Written and Directed by Meherzad Patel.
 
Prithvi Theatre – 6 & 9pm: KABULIWALA LAUT AAYA

The play is about a homesick Afghani and his friendship with a little girl in Kolkata, has two parts. The original story ends in the first part, in the second, the past and present are connected with a new story related to Kabuliwala and the little girl, making it relevant in the present context.

Sunday, 19th June
Prithvi Theatre – 11am: KABULIWALLA

An IPTA Balmanch Presentation.

NCPA Experimental Theatre – 4 & 7pm: THE CLASS ACT
A Silly Point Presentation.

Bhavan's Chowpatty Theatre – 7pm: CHANAKYA
A Manoj Joshi Presentation

Tata Theatre – 7:30pm: HISTORY OF INDIA : VIRITTEN
This delightful mix of fact, fiction, humour and some good old patriotism, delivered with impeccable comic timing, makes for a hilarious evening that warms your heart as it gently pulls your leg.
 
Prithvi Theatre – 6 & 9pm: KABULIWALA LAUT AAYA

With Aasif Sheikh, Baby Gungun, Nivedita Baunthiyal, Prashant Padale and Raman Kumar.

Wednesday, 22nd June
The Comedy Store – 7:30pm: NOSTALGIA BRAND CHEWING GUM

It happens at least once. To everyone. An awkward situation. Most people weather it, some change because of it, some aren't affected at all and some people even go looking for one. The one thing everyone does - laugh at one. But only when it’s not them.

With Diksha Basu, Kallirroe Tziafeta, Karan Pandit and Tariq Vasudeva.
Directed by Vivek Madan.

Thursday, 23rd June
Tata Theatre – 7:30pm: THE SOUND OF MUSIC
With Dalip Tahil, Delna Mody, Lucky Morani, Darius Shroff, Marianne D’Cruz Aiman and an integrated cast of children from mainstream schools, Raell Padamsee’s Academy for Creative Expression (ACE) and eight NGO’s: Happy Home  and School for the Blind, Central Society for the Education of the Deaf, Society for the Education of the Crippled, Aseema, Salaam Bombay Foundation, Seva Sadan, Muktangan and ADAPT.

Friday, 24th June
Prithvi Theatre – 9pm: APURVA AVSAR

This play is based on life of SHRIMAD RAJCHANDRA (1867-1901) – a contemporary thinker, a great philosopher, a brilliant poet, self realized saint and “PRAYOGVEER”.

Tata Theatre – 7:30pm: THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Directed by Advait Hazarat.

Saturday, 25th June
Prithvi Theatre – 11am & 6pm: MUMMY TU AAVI KEVI?
Thoroughly fed up with their mother’s traditional habits, her children try to introduce her to the modern ways of life. Though she does not wish to change, she pretends to give in to please her children. Initially, the children are satisfied with the result, but slowly they begin to realize that they preferred their mother the way she originally was. The tables turn, as the mother returns to her ways and makes a few changes in her children’s lifestyles.

Bhavan's Chowpatty Theatre – 7pm: ISMAT AAPA KE NAAM PART 1
A Motley Presentation

NCPA Experimental Theatre – 7pm: MISS BEAUTIFUL
An ailing mother and father ask their son to find himself a beautiful girl. The son, wanting his parents to die peacefully, brings home Miss Beautiful.

NCPA Godrej Theatre – 7pm: PAST FORWARD
Two plays in English – Scarborough Fair and Roulette.

Tata Theatre – 7:30pm: THE SOUND OF MUSIC
An ACE Presentation.

Prithvi Theatre – 9pm: MAREEZ

An Ideas Unlimited Presentation.
 
Sunday, 26th June

Prithvi Theatre – 11am: MUMMY TU AAVI KEVI?

Directed by Manoj Shah.

NCPA Experimental Theatre – 6:30pm: MISS BEAUTIFUL
With Nagesh Bhosle, Divya Jagdale, Makrand Deshpande, Ahlam Khan, Sanjay Dadhich, Ananda Karak and Vineet Sharma.

NCPA Godrej Theatre – 7pm: PAST FORWARD
A Last Minute Theatre Presentation.

Bhavan's Chowpatty Theatre – 7pm: MEERA
A Dharmendra Gohil Presentation

Tata Theatre – 4 & 7:30pm: THE SOUND OF MUSIC
When a postulant proves too high-spirited for the religious life, she is dispatched to serve as governess for the seven children of a widowed naval captain. Her growing rapport with the youngsters, coupled with her generosity of spirit, gradually captures the heart of the stern captain, and they marry. Upon returning from their honeymoon they discover that Austria has been invaded by the Nazis, who demand the captain’s immediate service in the navy. The family’s narrow escape over the mountains to Switzerland on the eve of World War II provides one of the most thrilling and inspirational finales ever presented in theatre.

Prithvi Theatre – 4 & 8pm: MASTER PHOOLMANI
It is an engaging story of pleasant fantasy & harsh reality so finely blended together that the play evolves as an overwhelming emotional experience.

Monday, 27th June
18 Anukool – 7:30pm: GREAT TEXT READING

An informal reading of George Bernard Shaw’s ‘Man and Superman’

Tuesday, 28th June
Prithvi Theatre – 9pm: FLOWERS

A dramatic monologue about a devoted and pious priest who violates both his dharma and his bhakti because of his love for a courtesan.

Wednesday, 29th June
Prithvi Theatre – 9pm: FLOWERS
A Rage Presentation.
 
Thursday, 30th June
Prithvi Theatre – 9pm: FLOWERS
Written by Girish Karnad. Directe by Roysten Abel. Performed by Rajit Kapur.