From ‘A Tree and a Boy’, South Korean theater, theBEFU
A kitchen full of silly superheroes, all with pots, pans and whisks in tow – certainly sounds like a recipe for chaos and madness. Here, there are no rules. If you’re underwater one minute, you’re part of the underworld the next. In a race against time, they’re in search of ingredients from another world.
In the recently renovated Museum Theatre, the busy kitchen is slowly coming alive. You might spot strange-looking fish, the occasional dragon and a group of chefs with bright red clown noses floating by in the distance as the stage is set to host the 13th edition of The Little Festival, an international theatre festival for children. This year, the chefs and their adventures are headlining an in-home production in addition to the CooksThe city will also feature Korean puppet shows. a tree and a boy,
Both plays are non-verbal, and are aimed at young audiences with the aim of enhancing their imagination. This has been a running theme for The Little Theatre. Krishnakumar Balasubramaniam (KK), Artistic Director and Producer Cooks It is said that the easiest way to overcome the perceived language barrier in theatre is to use human physicality. This is even more true when the audience are children.
KK says, “I have always been very inspired by anything physical when it comes to comedy. So we wanted to set it in an unusual setting. We also wanted it to reflect the idea of ​​’coming together’ and what else brings people together other than food? That’s how kitchen and physical comedy came together.”
The Kooks cast and crew | Photo credit: Abhishek Thangamani
This year the show is being directed by Santosh Kumar. The play uses clowning and comedy techniques and there is scope for improvement every time. “The script is two pages long, but the show is 1 hour 15 minutes long! Every second counts. Every performance on stage is different,” says Santosh.
A very minimal script and strong characters defined by the actors is the key here. Solving problems as well as creating problems is what the characters are for. “Just like every recipe needs certain ingredients to be made well, the characters realise that they need to come together for the magic to happen,” explains Santosh. “In an age where children’s imagination is being stifled by a very linear system of education and their dependence on gadgets, we want to remind them that the potential of imagination is limitless. That’s what the kitchen is for,” adds KK.
There is nothing that lets children’s imagination run wild like puppetry. From theBEFU Theatre in South Korea a tree and a boy Conceived in 1992, this play is a journey of imagination and sounds, and a masterclass on traditional Korean puppetry. Here, the life of a boy and a tree is shown together through the seasons; from spring to winter, and then back to spring.
A tree and a boy | Photo Credit: Special arrangement
Director Lee says, “This show is a story about life that everyone can relate to. Birth, growing up, loving, failing, dying, it’s all very natural and beautiful. The magic of existence.” Lee says that in addition to the wooden puppets that the actors twist, shadow puppets also appear when the protagonist’s tragedy unfolds. She points to a particular scene where the neighbourhood children join the boy for a game – “Though it looks simple, it is very different from India, and will probably be a lesson in cultural experience [for Indian audiences]Lee says there are many more surprises in store for the Chennai audience (hint: music).
Kids are at the core of both these experiences. And it’s really hard to satisfy them. “Sometimes, they ask for certain characters to stay on stage for longer. They want to connect with them. This time, we have made sure that happens,” says KK.
Cooks Performances will be held on July 5, 6 and 8 at 11 a.m. and on July 7 at 4 p.m. a tree and a boy Will be held on July 9 and 10 at 11 am. Passes cost ₹400 on explara.com.
