Architect & Director, The Boat House
“How does one express abstract prose poems into a visual performance? How does one portray the description of cities on a stage? How does one interpret visual stories into a theatrical play?
Armed with light, shadow and smoke Maverick Director Yadavan Chandran, with great panache, executes the herculean task of translating Italo Calvino’s Invisible cities into a spectacle that is at once literal and phenomenal, abstract and real in its narrative.
Yadavan’s genius lies in stretching the original’s trajectory to make a subtle statement about the future of cities, of what we have lost to reach where we are.
In Yadavan’s Meanwhile elsewhere, the role of the emperor and the explorer take a new shade. They grieve, they question, they debate. Often we see the cities through Kublai khan’s eyes. Like a magician, Yadavan fuses music, weaves illusions with threads and creates mesmerizing tales of fictional and real cities. The costumes, the use of multiple languages, music and last but not the least the characters dazzle like a blinding light in a moonless sky. Perhaps this is the essence of Meanwhile Elsewhere- we are thrilled yet frightened, happy yet sad. Uncomfortable in our complacence.
Kudos to Mallika Sarabhai, not only for brilliant acting, but also for treating the city of Ahmedabad to this compelling visual treat.”
Architect, Sangath Doshi Studio
“The theatrical performance of Invisible Cities at Natarani, inspired by Italo Calvino’s literary masterpiece, was truly a mesmerizing exploration of the intangible essence of cities. With stunning set design and projections of imagined cities transported us into the realms of illusion and reality. While the flowing fabrics became metaphors for the fluidity of life and the impermanence of time, the costumes - almost dreamlike, evoked the spirit of the cities—fragile, vibrant, and layered. The interplay of light and shadow, life and death, was woven seamlessly into the narrative, creating a visual and emotional tapestry that resonated deeply.
This powerful yet nuanced performance brought the text alive, embodying the shifting perspectives and emotions of Calvino’s cities with grace and depth. The weaving of fabrics mirrored the weaving of stories, highlighting the interconnectedness of people, spaces, and time. The persistent noise of urban life served as a haunting reminder of the layered complexities of the society we inhabit.
The performance raised poignant questions: What defines a city? Where are the invisible cities of dreams, joy, and theatre—full of stories yet untold? It was a reflection on what we have built, what we have lost, and what we still long to find.”
