Discourse through drama

Allegedly has an ensemble cast of 16 womxn actors

Nearly two and a half years ago, publishing house Zubaan had undertaken research on sexual violence and impunity. In order to open up a dialogue on this research with the public, particularly students of law and medicine, they commissioned a series of art performances, out of which, Allegedly, a theatre piece by Delhi-based theatre artiste Mallika Taneja, was born. Although originally conceived as a live performance, the production has taken on a virtual avatar, with a show coming up this weekend.

Taneja tells us that the Zoom performance, which brings together 16 womxn [an inclusive term that refers to anyone who identifies as a woman] actors from across India, seeks to strike up a conversation on legality, believability, consent and memory surrounding sexual violence. She shares that she had initially designed the play as a tête-à-tête between two friends. "We were in talks to perform the play in Europe in collaboration with two theatre platforms, Beursschouwburg Brussels and Kunstencentrum Vooruit Ghent, but then the pandemic struck. We tried turning it into a video installation, but after successive lockdowns in Europe, we decided to change the form," she adds.

Mallika Taneja. Pic/Camila Svenson

Allegedly's plot revolves around a case of sexual violence involving non-consensual removal of condom by a man - an act broadly termed stealthing. "In the play, the primary conversation is between two friends discussing the case. The next layer is in the form of a chorus which talks about a number of issues embedded in the realm of sexual violence. The third layer of conversation is with the audience, where we ask them questions through the Zoom poll," the
director explains.

This format has allowed the team to realise how common sexual violence is. "There's something sad and strong in this realisation," she notes. The show, thus, also ends up highlighting the complex character of solidarity - an important aspect of the post #MeToo world. "A question we are often asked is how to get cis-het men, or rather the ‘other side' to reflect on these issues. The play doesn't seek to answer all these questions at once, but get people talking to have a dialogue," Taneja signs off.

On February 28 and March 7, 8.30 pm; March 13, 10.30 pm
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Cost Rs 100