Veteran playwright and director curates workshop for actors

The playwright-director at a previous workshop with actors

Nothing gives me greater pleasure than bumping into a professional actor, and they remember with great accuracy the workshop exercises they had done with me years ago," reveals Mahesh Dattani, a celebrated playwright and director. Despite nursing a toothache when this writer reached out to him, the Sahitya Akademi-winner's sense of joy, and dedication, to nurture artistes is palpable in the way he opens up about The Believable Actor, his ongoing workshop. From Dance Like a Man to Final Solutions, Dattani is the force behind some of the most riveting productions in contemporary Indian theatre. His course is divided into the foundation and intermediate phases. Ahead of the intermediate workshop, the master theatre-maker chats with The Guide.

Mahesh Dattani

What prompted you to curate this workshop?
I am gratified when they [professional actors he trained] talk about how it affected their lives and artistic endeavours. This module is created to raise artistic awareness and create a more inspired actor, who works with imagination and presence as all great actors do.

What do you feel are the key skills that make an actor believable?
The most incredible skill that an actor may possess is that they can make the intangible tangible. Believably, without demonstration. If the audience can believe in the overall creation, a whole that the actor is an integral part of, their job is done. As one director said, ‘Good acting is when the audience can believe what the character is doing. Bad acting is when the audience notices what the actor is trying to do.'

What are some of the learnings one can take away from these workshops?
I am drawing from Michael Chekhov's system - primarily from what is called The Four Brothers of Art. A feeling of beauty, ease, a feeling of entirety, and a feeling of form. I also draw from his archetypal intentions that an actor may use to create a rich subtext and inner life for their character. The intermediate-level workshop will explore these in detail by practising a selected scene and applying these techniques to create believable actions. The foundation workshop is open to all. The intermediate level is for those who have attended my foundation workshop, or have work experience in theatre or films as actors. More than experience, I am looking at the level of focus and artistic integrity an actor has - a prerequisite for any truthful performance.

What projects are you currently working on?
I have a heavy travel schedule in 2023. But I plan to spend more time in Mumbai to revive the production of my play, Snapshots of a Fervid Sunrise, starring Swati Das. Also, I want to complete a play that I am working on.

On: January 24 to 28, 6.30 pm to 9 pm; January 29, 10 am to 2 pm
At: Bungalow No 22, Aram Nagar part 1, Versova, Andheri
Email: thebelievableactor@gmail.com (to register for the intermediate phase and for future dates)
Cost: Rs 10,000 (intermediate)