Established by Mrinalini and Vikram Sarabhai in 1949, Darpana Academy for Performing Arts has been headed by their daughter Mallika Sarabhai since the last three decades. Darpana visits Mumbai this month with two of their productions:



LDR is a multimedia performance that deals with the rootlessness and lack of sense of belonging of those that choose displacement for themselves-either going abroad for better economic prospects, or divided by time and circumstance from their moorings and loved ones. Integrating dance, theatre, text and video, LDR explores the nature of long distance relationships and the displacement they bring, through their myriad complexities and disjunctions, whilst dealing with a fundamental question: how can we find togetherness when living apart and on the move? An affective soundscape layers the interplay of text and movement with a multitude of 'voices' that speak of waiting, desire and the silence in between separation.

Concept, Choreography & Direction: Revanta Sarabhai
Performed by: Revanta Sarabhai and Sarathy Korwar
Original Music: Sarathy Korwar
Dramaturge: Leo Spreksel

Date: April 16 2014, 6:30 pm



UNEARTHED questions our selves in a changing world. Have we lost our sense of self? Why do we forget our own distancing from our core selves and look instead for answers in others whom we can demonise? What does this very personal and internal displacement from our own true self mean for a society?

Gowri Ramnarayan adapts a story by Gabriel Garcia Marquez into a physical theatre performance.

Directed by Yadavan Chandran and Mallika Sarabhai
Performed by Mallika Sarabhai with Palanivelu, Murali Nair, Padmakumar, Pinakin Thaker, Sonal Solanki, Manikandan, Pooja Purohit and Priyanka Raja
Original music score by Jayan Nair and the Darpana musicians
Sets and props by Manikandan and Pandarinathan
Costumes by Mallika Sarabhai
Lighting design by YadavanChandran

Date: April 17 2014, 6:30 pm



THE DAMMED speaks of how too often we ignore and bypass the displaced people in society, allowing them to become invisible. Their voices are not heard; their struggles go unresolved further pushing them to the margins of society.The Dammed brings to the fore the issue of internally displaced people, forced from their homes due to ethnic conflict, development projects, government actions and more. Through this multimedia dance theatre production, the invisible people become visible, their voices have an outlet and the viewer is pushed to confront those in their own community living at the edge.

Concept& Artistic Director: Naomi Deira
Creative Assistant: Kiraly Saint Claire
Performed by: Mallika Sarabhai & the Darpana Performing Group
Music: Jayan Nair
Visuals: Stephen Thornhill & Darpana Communications
Costume designer: Anuj Sharma

Date: April 18 2014, 6:30 pm

Venue for all three shows: Nehru Centre auditorium, Worli

Entry Free for all shows.

Mumbai Theatre Guide takes no responsibility for change in schedule.