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Yours Truly Theatre is a group based in Bangalore, India with an intention to take theatre to people. It is known for its innovative style of theatre. Continuing efforts are made to do varied styles of theatre which is then taken across Bangalore and India.
The group specialises in varied styles of theatre including Complete the Story Style, Playback Theatre, Body Theatre, Silent Theatre, Improv, Rough Theatre, Gripps Theatre, Forum Theatre.
A YT Production included "Final Touches" and "Common Man" which were done in "Complete the story" style.
Here the audience gets to end a "scripted story" together, and the actors act it out without any discussion. This production had four plays done in four different languages and travelled across Bangalore and Mysore.
Yours Truly presents interactive theatre style performance "Seasons Change". The production of "Common Man" dealt with the trials and tribulations of everyday life. Unlike typical theatre, there is a point where audience members can help determine the fate of the conclusion of the play.
Started in the year, 2003 Yours Truly Theatre has evolved a unique theatre language and is at the forefront of the movement of Interactive & Improvisational theatre in India; the group was started with a vision to use the power of applied improvisational theatre for change and exploring theatre that is spontaneous, intuitive & beyond the script.
They aim to create a whole new theatre experience where the audience will not just be a spectator but will participate along with the actors, with themes ranging from social issues to those of national importance.
They believe in taking theatre to the people, right from the auditoriums to offices to campuses to apartment terraces to resorts to nursing homes to hospices with an aim to reach out to not only the common man but also to people who don't have the opportunity to watch plays.
Nandini Rao and Ranji David are the Artistic Directors at Yours Truly Theatre. They have been instrumental in setting up Yours Truly Theatre in the year 2003 with a single-minded passion for setting up a theatre movement focusing on bringing a new language to contemporary Theatre in India using Interactive theatre and theatre for change as a medium.
They use the “Playback Theatre” technique. Playback Theatre is created through a unique collaboration between performers and audience. Here the audience shares a feel, moment, or a story from their life, and then these are enacted the actors on the spot, the audience get to watch their story is immediately recreated and given artistic shape and coherence.
There are three main section under playback: Fluids, stories, and conflicts. There are newer sections introduced in playback theatre such as echo, encounter and chorus.
It starts with icebreakers to make the audience feel comfortable. Then few warm-up questions are asked to the audience which actors then act spontaneously, after which the audience is invited to share an incident from their lives which is then acted out spontaneously by the actors.
There is no script, but there is a rhythm and sequence to a Playback Theatre performance. The Conductor is the host and facilitator of the process. After a period of introductions and warming up, someone will volunteer to tell a story. It could be a short moment or about a longer event. They may be past, present or future stories. They could be about a very special time or about something that happens every day.
In the course of performance 3, 4 or 5, maybe more, people will come forward to tell a story in this way. Towards the end of the performance, the conductor may invite reflections on the process, and the team will create some sort of closure appropriate for the event.
This form of theatre is very entertaining and interactive. Audience feel very important as the play is from their lives. They can connect to it, so it becomes a very enjoyable experience which they cherish for the rest of their lives.
Playback Theatre is a process that can be adapted to many settings. Playback Theatre exists in three forms: (a) artistic, (b) therapeutic, and (c) social/ development.
Another technique, They use, is “Complete The Story”. This format combines improvisation and conventional drama, the actors perform a play in conventional style, and at a crucial point of the story the performance is paused, and the audience is invited to suggest an ending to the play.
This ending which is decided by the audience through a conductor (who acts as a bridge between the audience and the actors), is then enacted by actors impromptu.
All reactions are taken, and the actors enact the final few scenes as suggested by the audience. As interesting and involving it may sound for the audience, it is, however, very demanding and exciting for the actors.
Over a period of time the actors grew comfortable with the tool, the audiences began to understand the power within it, and the group is now able to take it to higher levels with more complex stories and social issues, which are commonly discussed during performances.
THE STAFF
Ranji David, Artistic Director
Nandini Rao, Artistic Director
Yours Truly Alma
No 1, 17th E Main road, CMH road
Indiranagar, Bangalore,
India
Yourstrulytheatre@gmail.com
http://www.yourstruly-theatre.com/index.htm
http://ytnewsletter.wordpress.com/
Here are few videos reflect some of their work.