Theatre for a Cause

A life beyond V-All but is it really?

This week has been a lot more than V-All, thought why not write about it since this is as much a part of my journey and hence the journey of V-All.?

Two weeks ago I received a message out of the blue from Radhika Bharat Ram. Would I do backstage for a new show they were doing? It was Pride and Prejudice, one of my favourite books since childhood. Who could say no to being part of a production with their heroine Elizabeth Bennet on stage? To add to that, all of this is for a cause. They are producing this musical for MITTI Cafe . An organisation that provides a livelihood for people with special needs.

To me, this was in perfect alignment with what V-All stands for. People are using their time and talent to raise money for a non-profit. Our platform is not at the level they could use it this year but who knows, could convince them next year to use V-All.

These two weeks are very important for V-All. We launched the first internship yesterday with the North East Cohort. Ten exciting students from across different colleges in Guwahati, Jorhat and Shillong. Simultaneously we have applications coming from a few leading schools in Delhi NCR for the Delhi Cohort. For more information

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While all of this mayhem was going on, I spent days at the theatre propped in corners and on the floor, trying to get a couple of emails in. Honestly could not have done it, if? I did not have Pallavi Kaushal and Divya Bansal Bansal stressing out in the back to make it a success. To add to that we have fundraisers running for the Kabir Festival hosted by Manzil Mystics Foundation in Delhi. Check out the lineup and contribute to the cause by selecting the artist of your choice. A minimum price of Rs. 1000 (Not a ticket) and you can give more by clicking +.

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Was it easy to just let them run the show while I was doing something else? No the guilt of not being 100% there for V-All was niggling at me to make me come back at 10 pm, wake up at 5 am and do emails and other work. I guess the pros and cons of being an entrepreneur are one can do what they choose on their own time but the guilt of missing out stays with you so need to recognise that and have fun because that is equally important.

The team reminded me that I push them to enjoy life and do what they want to do so why was I stopping myself? Plus all of this was for a cause so it was very much in alignment with what we were building in this startup. Plus with my creative juices flowing while I was sitting backstage, directing people to move props, I have come back with a plethora of ideas to do more at V-All.

My love for backstage started in? North West Indiana when John Wotkun, a super cool electrical guy pulled me in to work for Hammond Community Theatre because they wanted a voice with an accent. I did not go on stage but signed up to do sets. The operations person in me thrived there with all the process and planning. Starting from Hammond, I graduated to making sets for Beatniks On Conkey and doing entire backstage productions for the 美国哈佛商学院 Show.

Community theatres to big productions, the endless rehearsals, extensive planning and the main thing, the buzz before and during the show. All of it gives me a high unlike any other. I just could not say no when Radhika asked me. After ten years to again be in that buzz, to meet interesting people, to feel the stage and audience. To find a community of creative people in India and to do it all for a cause. I just could not let that opportunity go. For those who don’t know Radhika, she is involved with organisations for Cancer, Blind Relief, schools/ colleges (Shriram), Theatre for a Cause and my favourite KARM for Young Indian Women (I signed up to be a mentor, you should too).

Karm Fellowship

I had already said yes to Theatre For A Cause because I love theatre and I could not say no to Radhika. Then I met the other women who run the show. From Ritu Chandra the director, to Devika the assistant director, to Vandana Munjal who runs practically everything in the back besides being the star Elizabeth Bennet. These women and their passion for the cause convinced me that I made the right decision in accepting to work on the show. If they will have me would love to work on every show they do going ahead.

I cannot say no to a group of strong women trying to do something good. To add to that, meeting all the actors, dancers and singers. There is something beautiful about this theatre community. People with diverse lives but open minds who come together to pull off a miracle on stage.?Actors, dancers, and singers with backgrounds from running a publishing house to a theatre teacher to running a gym to doing this professionally full time. You have them all.

From the sets and costumes planned to the last detail to actors bringing in their flavour. The quirky Mr Bennet with his gin, loud Mrs Bennet worried about getting her daughters married and shy Jane with Charles Bingley makes you think you are back in a Jane Austen novel. The haughty demeanour of Mr Darcy or the disdain shown by Lizzie (Elizabeth Bennet) brings back memories of the little girl wanting to be her and wanting a guy like him. The super-talented dancers and the voices of some exemplary singers tie it all together perfectly. We have delivered two mind-blowing performances in Gurgaon this week with a standing ovation last night even though we lost power midway.

I have not seen the show end to end because I am backstage but I know they are doing justice to my beloved memories from childhood. We have two more to go at the Sriram Center in Delhi this week. It is almost sold out so if you are in Delhi, like good theatre and love this Jane Austen classic as much as I do show up because this is an opportunity you do not want to miss.

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After all, it is all for a cause…

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