Rip: A Devised solo theatre perfoormance by Savita Rani, presented 23rd September at Cripa.
Director’s Note:
RIP is an abbreviation used to wish well for the soul that no more occupies a human body. Interestingly, other meanings of the word are tear, split, shred, break, scratch, cleave. I stick to RIP as ‘restlessness in pieces’, a contrary context to its usual meaning. The performance is an inquiry into Rest in Peace itself. For a body that goes through so much restlessness in life, both within, and outside, in the world, how can there be Rest in Peace after death? Why can we not rest in peace while we are alive? How? By inquiring into our own restlessness, and releasing it out. Inquiry of RIP opens up an individual’s possibilities of living, where the focus is not on any final product or goal but rather on the person living, in that process. This piece evolved in inquiring into performance, space and actor-spectator relationship, looking for its form and content.
About The Director:
Savita Rani is a graduate of National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi (2008), with a specialization in acting. She started her theatre career in her native Rohtak, Haryana in 1999 with Jatan Natya Manch, a political and social theatre group. Savita also has a one-year diploma from Himachal Cultural Research Forum & Theatre Repertory & Academy.
Savita has worked with eminent theatre personalities like Anuradha Kapur, Anamika Haksar, Tripurari Sharma, K. S. Rajendran, Abhilash Pillai, Suresh Anagali, Adil Hussai, Harish Khanna, Vivan Sundram, Roysten Abel, Khalid Tyabji, Jyoti Dogra etc. Her work has given her opportunity to travel to countries like Peru, Italy, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Japan, Thailand, England. Besides, Savita has acted in many drama productions, and participated in many conferences, theatre festivals and workshops. She also participated in École Nomade workshop by Ariane Mnouchkine of Theatre du Soleil, France in Pondicherry. At present Savita is pursuing her Ph.D. in the Department of Performing Arts, Pondicherry University.
