The Pillowman
Aug 2024
Projection, Scenic and Publicity Designer
Martin McDonagh's chilling dark comedy in a new production by Kaivalya Plays.
The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh is a dark comedy set in an unnamed totalitarian state, where a writer named Katurian is interrogated by two detectives, Ariel and Tupolski. They suspect Katurian's macabre short stories, which often feature gruesome child murders, have inspired real-life killings. As the investigation unfolds, Katurian's disturbing past and the relationship with his mentally disabled brother, Michal, are revealed.
This rendition of ‘The Pillowman' directed by Raghav Seth and produced by Kaivalya Plays introduces audiences to the theatrical idea of “show, don’t tell” and brings a fresh take on Martin McDonagh’s edge-of-the-seat script, winner of the 2004 Olivier Award for Best New Play
This production of The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh is produced by Kaivalya Plays under license from Concord Theatricals. We would like to acknowledge the support of the Instituto Cervantes Nueva Delhi and the Programmes Team at India Habitat Center for their support in realizing this production.
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This play is very close to my heart as a storyteller given its acerbic dialogue, sharp twists and unsettling energy. When I joined the team as a projection and scenic designer, I was excited to visualize these elements on the stage. Through discussions with the director Raghav Seth, we arrived at the structure of the platform and two sideways drapes, which had their own set of challenges. The short stories in the script, usually enacted by another group of actors, were visualized using projections and oral storytelling. To underscore that the play is set in a totalitarian state, we added a live camera that captured a CCTV footage of the interrogation room, whilst another live camera on stage captured a close-up of the protagonist to further amplify the storytelling.
Creative Team
Directed by Raghav Seth
Starring Mohit Mukherjee, Laxit Reveri, Cecil Jose, Gurjas Singh, Riddhijit Chattopadhyay and Jaidhar Vashist
Projection, Scenic and Publicity Design by Gaurav Singh Nijjer
Light Design by Deeksha Vats
Production and Backstage Management by Jaidhar Vashisht
Produced by Varoon P. Anand
Documentation by Varoon P. Anand
Presented under license from Concord Theatricals
Performance History
The Pillowman by Kaivalya Plays premiered at the India Habitat Centre on August 24 and 25 2024.
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