The KNMA Theatre Festival explores human connection and vulnerability, offering unique performances that reflect on identity and emotion in modern life, writes SAKSHI PRIYA
Theatre is a mirror of the human condition." This timeless quote captures the essence of why we turn to the stage - to reflect on who we are, how we live and the world we inhabit. Theatre has the power to make us confront uncomfortable truths, question our beliefs and reimagine the possibilities of human connection. It’s a place where vulnerability, in all its forms, becomes not just a theme, but the lens through which we view the world.
At the inaugural KNMA Theatre Festival, I was reminded of this power in the most profound way. Held at the serene Sunder Nursery in New Delhi, the festival celebrated contemporary theatre and its ability to speak to the issues that matter most today. Curated by Kirtana Kumar, the festival's theme, The Power of Vulnerability, couldn’t have been more fitting. It was a celebration of the delicate, yet potent, human experiences that shape us. From class and gender to sexuality and identity, the performances unearthed the quiet, often overlooked struggles that define our society.
One of the most thought-provoking performances I experienced was Love and Information, a play that stripped back the complexities of modern life, revealing the raw emotions beneath. Presented by (NCPA) in association with Aasakta Theatre, this production, directed by Mohit Takalkar, took a unique approach to storytelling. Adapted from Caryl Churchill’s original, Love and Information is a radical departure from traditional theatre, with no central characters and no linear plot. Instead, the play is made up of over fifty short scenes, each one fleeting and fragmented, much like the way we experience life today in an age of endless scrolling and information overload.
The play delves into questions of how we make sense of our lives, how we connect with others and ultimately, how we love. As I sat in the audience, I couldn’t help but reflect on the themes of the play, which mirrored the very nature of our times, alienation in the face of constant exposure, the erosion of privacy, and the blurring of boundaries between the self and the digital world.
What struck me most about Love and Information was its non-linear structure. Each scene, often lasting only a few seconds, felt like a snapshot of a fleeting moment in time. There were no central characters to follow, no clear narrative to grasp, just a series of disconnected vignettes that came together to form a larger, more complex picture. It was as if we were channel-surfing through different lives, only catching a glimpse of each before moving on to the next. Yet, in this chaotic rush, the play’s true message emerged: that in a world overflowing with data and distractions, it is our emotional connections that truly define us.
As I watched the actors move effortlessly between characters, it became clear how much we, as individuals, are shaped by the constant flow of information and the pressure to stay connected. Each actor brought something unique to their role, embodying the vulnerability of a generation struggling to balance their digital lives with their real-world emotions. Visually, the production was nothing short of stunning. Love and Information isn’t just a play about the times we live in; it’s a reflection of the human condition in a world overwhelmed by information. It speaks to the anxiety of living in an age where we are constantly flooded with data but struggle to make genuine emotional connections. The rapid-fire scenes, with their fragmented glimpses into people's lives, forced me to reconsider the way we view love, information and the spaces in between.
