Know Your Theatre

Masquerade Chennai Presents Know Your Theatre 

CELEBRATING Na. Muthuswamy…

In this 1st Episode of KNOW YOUR THEATRE series, we bring to you a snapshot of the transformative world of a Playwright, a Theatre Practitioner, a writer who truly changed the practice of theatre and stagecraft in Tamilnadu: Padmashri (Late) Na. Muthuswamy, Founder - Koothupattarai, Chennai. 

For anyone who had been, leave alone be associated, even in the nodding vicinity of Padmashri (Late) Na. Muthuswamy sir, it was very credible to believe that they were in the presence of a legend, a doyen, above all, a great human being. His writings were the magic carpet, his theatre a bridge that comfortably synthesised the traditional folk and the modern stagecraft. Such was his disarming presence, one felt special without being overawed. He made everyone at so much ease, reached out to everyone with his smile and warm words, making conversations and discussions easy. His writings are a testimony to this fact. 

The episode shall witness excerpted presentations from his seminal work Kaalam Kaalamaaga (presented by Theatre Collab / Prasanna Ramkumar) in Tamil, Natrunaiappan (God) - one of Na. Muthuswamy's mid-career work, in English (by Masquerade) and Arjunan Thapasu (The Penance of Arjuna) - one of his last creations, in Tamil (by Dr. V. Baskar, Dr. Nandakumar & Malavika Reshmi). 

These would be followed by an open-house interface between the works, stage and vision of Muthuswamy sir, facilitated by Prasanna Ramaswamy, one of Chennai's finest theatre practitioners and one among those who had the opportunity to have interactions with the doyen, his mind and his oevure at close quarters.

A Snapshot over 2 hours of performative readings and open house interface. For, while most Practitioners can be delved into deeply over a span of 2 hrs, with Muthuswamy sir, even a snapshot is an achievement. We shall try. Do join us.