Greek tales with a modern twist

A new theatre production in the city will bring to life 10 Greek myths. These tales, compiled by Roman poet Ovid, have been adapted to a contemporary setting by the Yatrik theatre group for the play — Metamorphoses, which won rave reviews at Broadway in 2004.

A new theatre production in the city will bring to life 10 Greek myths. These tales, compiled by Roman poet Ovid, have been adapted to a contemporary setting by the Yatrik theatre group for the play — Metamorphoses, which won rave reviews at Broadway in 2004.

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The play, which is being performed for the first time in the city this weekend, features an ensemble cast including film and television actors Aarti Nayar and Shena Gamat, opera singer Reuben Israel, media personality Sunit Tandon and radio jockey Vani Vyas.

Metamorphoses explores different myths, with change as its central theme. The play features the tale of the golden touch of Midas, the love story of Alcyone and Ceyx who are transformed into birds to be together after death, the myth of Erysichthon who is transformed into a hungry man with an insatiable appetite, and the fable of Narcissus who is totally absorbed in self love, among others.

The entire play is set around a water pool and a deck. “A live water tank has been constructed on the stage that will have some of the actors performing in the water,” says Kusum Haider, director of the play. With 50-60 characters divided between 10 actors, each actor gets to play multiple characters. “Changing more than seven characters in the same play is a big challenge,” says actor Sonali Sharma, who plays a laundress, sailor, narrator Lucina, Goddess Ceres and a nursemaid.

Catch it here
What: A play, Metamorphoses, in English
When: April 13-15, 7.30 pm
Where: Amphitheatre, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road
Tickets: Rs 200, available at the venue