“It is not easy to find an abandoned building. The Factory is an ideal venue where we will create a fictional universe with complex narratives revolving around money matters,” says Director Amitesh Grover…reports Asian Lite News
The last chapter of Serendipity Arts Foundation’s new initiative #BeyondSerendipity is bringing Amitesh Grover’s experimental theatre production, ‘The Money Opera’ to the Capital with the support of The Gujral Foundation. A layered commentary told through multiple perspectives; the play will be presented at ‘The Factory’ in Okhla from September 23 to October 8 (two shows every day except on Tuesdays).
Commissioned by Serendipity Arts Foundation, The Money Opera first opened to an overwhelming response at the Festival’s 2002 edition, where it was showcased in an abandoned building in Goa. Amitesh Grover and the SAF have a long-standing association, as the former’s creative productions have been part of the inter-disciplinary festival’s previous editions in 2019 and 2020 as well.
In Amitesh’s words “It is a special project with special needs” and the Foundation has shown immense faith in his creative pursuits by selecting “the right location” for The Money Opera. This is where The Gujral Foundation provided support to the project by giving the venue space — The Factory – an abandoned site in the middle of industrial buildings.
“It is not easy to find an abandoned building. The Factory is an ideal venue where we will create a fictional universe with complex narratives revolving around money matters,” says Director Amitesh Grover.
An experimental theatre production, The Money Opera unravels stories of greed, desire, love, ambitions, and a multitude of emotions and behavioral patterns that dictate our ways of being. The 90-minute show gives agency to the audience over which story they want to engage with but they hold no power over what happens inside the building. The characters inhabiting the space come from varied spectrums of socio-cultural backgrounds and feature a mix of professional actors and real-life performers. The audience will meet a young billionaire, a ghost, an inheritor, a landlord, a child goddess, a thief, a poet, a stock-broker, a rebel, an explorer, and several others who share their stories that are intricately woven into the fabric of the society.
While the context of the production remains the same, some new characters and stories will be part of the capital’s iteration. “The play has a soul and it will bring within its fold cultural stories of a new city,” says Amitesh.
“We have always believed in the power of collaboration and co-creating with like-minded institutions and individuals to create an ecosystem that is supportive of art and creativity. For this special project, we are happy to have joined hands with The Gujral Foundation. Our ethos is anchored in creating a thriving ecosystem that provides support, resources, and opportunities necessary for emerging talent to flourish,” says Smriti Rajgarhia, Director, of Serendipity Arts Foundation & Festival.
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