In a theatre scene brimming with ensemble casts and grand set designs, THE CORPORATE takes a bold, minimalist approach - one performer, one voice, and one unyielding narrative. Written and performed by Tathagata Chowdhury, this psychological thriller delves beneath the glossy surface of corporate life, exposing a landscape of ruthless ambition, complex power dynamics, and raw emotional fragility - all brought to life by a single man on stage.
By MTG editorial
You're alone on stage in THE CORPORATE - no co-actors, no distractions. Just you and the audience. How do you mentally and emotionally prepare for carrying an entire performance solo? My performance has its roots in conviction. I've worked in a corporate environment and the emotions that were stirred during the hours at work is perhaps reflecting in the performance. In the script. My preparation is no different from any other performance. I'll be performing in Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf in September. Though I'm a diehard believer of the Stanislavsky style and am in the process of developing my own style where space is also a key character, my eventual preparation is ENJOY and BE SEXY. 😊 I need to be convincing, engaging, entertaining, and enriching. That's the mark of a sexy performer.
Corporate life is something most people live, but few talk about in such an honest and layered way. What was the hardest part of turning that everyday experience into compelling theatre? I hope it's compelling. To be naked with experience, with a hard hitting story, that too without any pretense, and involving the audience. All at the same time. The hardest part had nothing to do with the play, but the timing. It's scripted at a time when I lost my mother The Delhi performance at The Depot happened around the time. Once the third bell rings, everything else fades out and only the performance matters.
From boardrooms to breakdowns - THE CORPORATE taps into a world many know too well. How does the play resonate with audiences who don't come from a corporate background? The beauty of the script is that it's meant for everyone to resonate with a corporate life without being a corporate. The Corporate environment is there in every day existence. In our persuasive nature of dominance and reaping rewards, not just in the work field but also in our families, relationships. In a family of three, we'll see two people forming a nexus against a third one. And the process of rat race. Not just the literal rat race but in every facet of existence.
You chose to frame this narrative as a thriller, which is a bold take on the corporate world. What drew you to this genre? Was it always the vision or did it evolve during development? Thriller, psychological thrillers, Suspense, horror- these are my pet genres. I try and weave a Suspense or thrilling moment in most of the works. This was one of those.
You've probably seen the audience go from laughter to pin-drop silence in moments. Are there any particular scenes that consistently evoke a strong reaction - or even surprise you? There's a scene where I invite the audience to help take the story forward in the way that they want to. And the first sentence of the performance from that moment of audience involvement is given by the audience. That segment is something that I think is engaging and involving. It's a moment when the emotions stirred or evoked, is something to be treasured.
A solo act means improvisation becomes instinct when things go off-script. Have there been any live moments or audience reactions that caught you completely off guard? In the premiere show I jumped from quite a height and landed close to the audience. The reaction of a lady who thought I almost jumped on her was … riveting.
The play dives into themes of ambition, isolation, and identity within a structured system. What do you hope the audience takes away about the human side of the corporate world? Rather id like the audience to figure out if there's meaning in this existence. I don't wish to paint a negative or one sided picture of this world but I do wish to raise the question that for the sake of a regular salary, is it worth it all? What is this "it" is what the corporate tries to question.
