Thriller Meets Boardroom: Tathagata Chowdhury on the Solo Act of THE CORPORATE
August 8, 2025 18:40:02 IST MTG editorial
In a theatre landscape crowded with ensemble casts and elaborate set pieces, THE CORPORATE strips it all down to a single performer, a single voice, and a single, relentless story. Written and performed by Tathagata Chowdhury, this psychological thriller peels back the polished veneer of the corporate world to reveal a world of ambition, power plays, and emotional vulnerability " all through the lens of one man on stage.
For Chowdhury, the preparation for such a solo performance is rooted in lived experience. Having spent years in the corporate world, he admits that the emotions, tensions, and interpersonal politics of that life have seeped into the very marrow of his script and performance.
“My performance has its roots in conviction,” he explains. “I’m a believer in the Stanislavsky style, but I’m also developing my own method where space becomes a key character. My preparation? Enjoy and be sexy. I need to be convincing, engaging, entertaining, and enriching " that’s the mark of a sexy performer.”
But while the boardroom may be familiar territory for many, turning that experience into compelling theatre came with its own challenges. “To be naked with experience, to tell a hard-hitting story without pretence, and involve the audience at the same time " that’s the challenge,” says Chowdhury. The timing of the script’s completion was particularly personal; he had just lost his mother when the Delhi performance at The Depot took place. “Once the third bell rings, everything else fades out. Only the performance matters.”
One of the play’s unexpected strengths is its universal appeal. While it is steeped in corporate life, Chowdhury believes THE CORPORATE resonates even with audiences who have never set foot in an office.
“The corporate environment exists in everyday life,” he explains. “In families, friendships, relationships " we see the same politics, the same alliances, the same race to the top. It’s not just the literal rat race, but a part of every facet of existence.”
Choosing to frame this narrative as a thriller was not an afterthought but a natural extension of Chowdhury’s artistic leanings. “Thrillers, psychological thrillers, suspense, horror these are my pet genres. I try to weave an element of suspense or thrill in most of my works. This was one of those,” he shares. The format allows him to keep audiences on edge, flipping between laughter and pin-drop silence in a matter of seconds.
One scene, in particular, stands out for its audience engagement. Chowdhury invites the audience to actively shape the story, letting them supply the first line of the next scene. “That moment of involvement is electric,” he says. “The emotions it stirs are something to be treasured.”
Of course, in a solo act, there is no safety net. Improvisation becomes second nature when unexpected moments arise. Chowdhury recalls the premiere show where he leapt from a considerable height and landed close to the audience. “A lady thought I had almost jumped on her reaction was riveting,” he laughs. Beneath the tension and intrigue, THE CORPORATE grapples with deeper questions about identity, ambition, and the price of belonging to a structured system. “I don’t want to paint a negative or one-sided picture,” Chowdhury clarifies. “But I do want to ask for the sake of a regular salary, is it worth it all? And what exactly is this ‘it’? That’s the question the play poses.”
With THE CORPORATE, Tathagata Chowdhury offers more than a glimpse into the corporate grind; he turns it into a mirror, reflecting the human need for validation, control, and connection. And in that reflection, audiences corporate or not may just see themselves.
THE CORPORATE To Be Staged on: Saturday, 16th August 2025, Atta Galatta, Bengaluru – 7:30 pm Sunday, 17th August 2025, IDAM, The Space, Chennai – 7:30 pm Saturday, 23rd August 2025, Risk Performing Auditorium, Gurugram - 7:30 pm
*Mumbai Theatre Guide takes no responsibility for change in schedule.
