The Upstage Interview: Rahul Varma

Jade Hassouné in The Poster

(photo: ADARNA Photography)

The Sharing of Wisdom

Upstage Contributor Stephanie Breton spoke with Rahul Varma, Artistic Director of Teesri Duniya Theatre about their production The Poster.   Below is an abridged version edited by Estelle Rosen, CharPo editor-in-chief.

UPSTAGE

Tell us how you discovered this play. It’s a very intense subject.

VARMA

Teesri Duniya has a history of presenting intense plays. That’s what we’re known for. This play was first produced as L’Affiche. Paul Lefebvre introduced me to the playwright Philippe Ducros and encouraged me to speak with him on the basis of the very strong political value of the play.  

I met wiith Philippe several times. The passion that he demonstrated when we spoke convinced me  there’s something he has to say which should be shared with the community. So I got the rights to get the play translated to English and decided to produce it.

When he encounters the poster of his own son, that’s when the dramatic action begins by looking into who killed him and the relationship between the person who allegedly killed him and this family.

UPSTAGE

The play is about what happens to a man who prints posters of people who have passed away as a direct result of struggle in Palestine. One day he has to print a poster of his only son. A rich starting point for any dramatic action. How is this man’s inner struggle reflected in the political activity of what’s happening in the part of the world where he lives?

VARMA

Making the posters, displaying them, is his expression of protest. The number of posters shows how many people have died. 

When he encounters the poster of his own son, that’s when the dramatic action begins by looking into who killed him and the relationship between the person who allegedly killed him and this family.

The play shifts when Israeli soldiers and citizens begin to interact with the Palestinian freedom fighters; creating an intense relationship between them. The play moves on from there.

The situation creates a  very personal story of genuine fear; a fear  derived from geopolitics.

UPSTAGE

Questioning why did this person die is a universal question.  In this kind of situation,  the reasons are so much more than just because everybody dies some day. This must come up in context of the action but how this is addressed I would imagine has some bearing on the stance of this production with regards to current conflict between Palestine and Israel.

VARMA

The situation is very tense. Palestinians are refugees in their own land for some  60 years;  at the same time Israelis make the claim they don’t feel secure.

So you have two very explosive situations where some whose children are born under gun, refugees in their own land fighting for freedom and independence of their land versus the Israelis who feel insecure because of the other side. 

The situation creates a  very personal story of genuine fear; a fear  derived from geopolitics. The play allows us to go somewhat into those politics to give us some sense why this is happening. Of course no one should take the position that  loss of life on either side is a good thing, but there is a big structural barrier that allows this situation to happen.

It is very cruel of the political system that someone dies for his country and is called a terrorist.

UPSTAGE

I think also we forget that loss of life is not always in vain. If there’s something we can learn from it and begin a healing process, strange as that may sound, we have to take advantage of the positives.

VARMA

I think we need to respect life. It is very cruel of the political system that someone dies for his country and is called a terrorist. It’s very cruel that somebody is protecting their land and someone says they are in the way of security. It’s very cruel for politicians to  continue to manipulate the system and allow Israelis to feel they’re insecure because of some people with whom they lived together in peace before 1948.

UPSTAGE

Are you excited for this production? I can’t imagine how people are going to react. Not sure it matters whether people are ready to see it. What matters is  that it sounds like everybody should see it.

VARMA

I believe art is always an exaggeration of reality. From that the truth comes out. I think there is a great appetite among the public to see something substantial. Art is not just for the sake of art;  It is for the dialogue. This play offers a platform because both sides have their positions to present in a very interactive manner.The audience aren’t sensitized to take one side or the other. 

There is a saying that when the play’s wisdom ends, the audience’s wisdom starts.

The Poster will be presented as an Infinitheatre guest production at Bain St.Michel Nov.17- Dec. 4.