Just a touch of kindness
December 29, 2015
Just a Kind Moment
In Kolkata, the Theatre Company I am traveling with, needed to set up during the day for the evenings performance. Since other shows were also performing in the single theatre venue, the company had to prepare the set behind the facility. When we arrived in the morning, our troupe, wandered to the back piecemeal. I followed a couple of the actors, fully expecting to be stopped or questioned, as this festival is one of the premier festivals in the north. I prepared to defend my presence as best I might given language differences. The group of older men, a collection of security, managers, and technical assistants, wandered about. One procured a tea pot and passed out morning Chai to the men. At that moment one of them pointed me out. Oh, I thought, I am discovered. (of course, being the only white man anywhere near the place, it’s hard to be undiscovered at all). The older gentlemen walked over and offered me tea. When boxed breakfasts arrived, they made sure I got one.
In the mad process of this national Theatre festival, there exists a kind of lax but intensely engaging process of show in show out, as companies arrive, store props, set up, perform and move out again in a matter of hours. And I apparently fit into the flow very nicely. I am not sure that all of those men knew who I was, just kindly assumed I was attached to one of the companies.
This ‘kind assumption’ permeated the multiple Theatre festivals we were yet to visit. The simple gesture of offering tea exemplifies the inclusive spirit of both the companies and festivals: the hosts want people to be a part of the proceedings in the true meaning of community. A reminder of what theatre in it’s most fundamental incarnation can achieve.
A Little More Kindness
Arriving at theatre number two at festival number two on day number two, the first thing we did was eat. That’s generally the first and last thing we do each day in this whirlwind of visiting Theatre festivals. Closely following, the company headed off to the venue to start setting up for the evening’s performance. A temporary stage tightly abutting the road, the stage area is nearly as large as the audience area.
As the company worked, the company director and I headed off to visit yet another Theatre Company in the same district. The director was visiting as a kind of solidarity gesture, as he is a well-respected practitioner in the north. I was brought along as an extension to that purpose. We sat with this company to talk and unexpectedly they asked for my input and some words on Indian and American Theatre from my experience. When finished both my director friend and I were gifted presents as equals. I had come along just to visit and here I was treated so kindly and with respect.
It probably shouldn’t have surprised me when, at that evenings festival performance I was invited onto the stage to be gifted more presents and asked to speak a few words to the audience. Unsure of the language differences, I shared my words to some surprising, and delightful, applause.
And again to Kathaparsanga, who had a room ready for me, as a stranger who only wished to tag along and watch. But treated as the special guest amongst the troupe.