Uff... tough choice, but, Brecht, Dario Fo, Beckett, Pinter. I'm reading a lot of Safdar these days and Mahesh Elkunchwar too � I really like the strategic sterility in his writing. It will be too obvious but of course every time I go back to Shakespeare � I feel like I have never read anything like that.
Your favourite play-character
Can't think of an absolute favourite, but I do admire the character of Mihir urf Sardar in POSTCARDS FROM BARDOLI. He's quite idealistic, but I wish the world had more people like him. I think we don't really write characters like that these days.
A play you would like to see filmed. Why?
Difficult since I don't know too much about film and its process but perhaps - Dario Fo's THE ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF AN ANARCHIST.
A novel/short story you would like to see on stage? Why?
'Death at Intervals' by Jose Saramago � we did try a 10 minute version of it for a school play. It worked quite well I think. It's about a country where death stops coming and what the consequences of that are.
It will also be interesting to see works of non-fiction, fictionalized on stage.
The most hilarious play you have seen
Somehow can't think of one.
A play, which is over-hyped
Some of Neil Simon's works I think.
An important play (but ignored)
Again AAYDAAN � very few people seem to know about it.
A play character you would like to ''dialogue'' with
Pozzo from WAITING FOR GODOT? Haha!
A passage from an important play that you can recite
Norah's end scene with Trovald from Ibsen's A DOLL'S HOUSE.
A classical play that you should have read
I would like to read more Greek plays than I have.
A play that changed your perception about the theatre
WATER STATION; it taught me a lot as a theatre-maker.
How do you regard the Mumbai theatre scene?
It's quite varied. But often cannot escape the city's mediocrity.
Have you read any interesting books/articles concerning the theatre? Why did you find them interesting?
Boal, Brook, Brecht, of course. But I recently read Utpal Dutt's Towards a Revolutionary Theatre which I thought really contextualised what it means to do political theatre in the subcontinent.
If you have ever been a part of a theatre production/s, can you recall an event that was insightful, significant or simply humorous?
Everyday working in the theatre is significant � every rehearsal, every list and every show. The point is to keep pushing yourself I guess.
Can you think of a foreign production that you found remarkable? Why?
I have liked some stuff but nothing that has stayed with me so far.
Your favourite director/actor/music or set designer
It's a bit unfair � because it differs from script to script. I really love Arianne Mnouchkine � and her company. In India - there is Thiyam, Sankar, Prasanna among the geniuses.
Life in the theatre without the humble batata-wada or the cutting chai... or can you recall the best gastronomic experience you've had in the precincts of the theatre to date?
Gurleen Judge
