Woven from memory, movement, and collaboration
Yadavan Chandran is the creator, writer, and director of Meanwhile Elsewhere. A filmmaker and theatre-maker, he has shaped every aspect of the production—from its sweeping visual world to its underlying political urgency. With light, sound, text, and architecture, he constructs immersive environments where the poetic and the political collide. Bold in vision and intimate in detail, his work demands attention and rewards reflection.
A celebrated dancer, actor, and activist, Mallika Sarabhai is the benevolent force behind Meanwhile Elsewhere. With a career spanning continents and causes, she has redefined storytelling through performance. In this production, she steps into the role of Marco—offering a deeply personal and poetic exploration of identity, history, and the cities within us all.
A Broadway-trained performer with a deep foundation in musical theatre, Penelope brings both power and delicacy to her presence on stage. In Meanwhile Elsewhere, she lends her voice to the evocative song There Comes A Time, and contributes to the choreographic language of the piece. With her layered artistry in voice, movement, and emotion, she draws the audience into the poetic worlds the show traverses.
An Italian performer rooted in classical theatre, Lucrezia has worked extensively across India and Europe. Founder of Sagome Teatro and Accademia Sangam, and a visiting artist at Harvard’s Centre for Hellenic Studies, she brings together discipline and intuition in her work. In Meanwhile Elsewhere, she steps into the role of Marco Polo and assists in choreography, offering a nuanced physicality and cross-cultural resonance to the piece’s emotional and spatial journeys.
Gaurang is a celebrated figure in Gujarati theatre and cinema. A versatile actor, he’s also a noted photographer, capturing personalities with the same depth he brings to the stage.
An actor from Madras with over 400 performances across India and abroad, Sarvesh has worked with some of the most brilliant minds in theatre. He believes "the grass is always greener on stage," and offstage, he enjoys good company, great conversations, and a well-aged whisky—though not always in that order.
An award-winning filmmaker with decades of experience, Hriday has directed for Doordarshan and earned accolades like the National Award and IDPA Merit. As an actor, he was part of Kadak Badshahi and now appears in Meanwhile Elsewhere.
Actor, theatre practitioner, and graphic artist, Teertha has performed at major festivals like Serendipity Arts, Bharat Rang Mahotsav, and the International Theatre Festival of Kerala. She also designs creative thinking workshops for schools and acts in Gujarati cinema.
A celebrated classical guitarist, Edoardo Catemario has performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages—from Carnegie Hall to Vienna’s Grosser Saal. For Meanwhile Elsewhere, he composed the haunting There Comes a Time in under three days, infusing the piece with urgency, clarity, and heart.
A national-award-winning dancer, Kajal has performed internationally and is currently pursuing her Master’s. Meanwhile Elsewhere is her deep dive into theatre and interdisciplinary performance.
Currently pursuing a Master’s in Theatre Studies, Aum brings intensity and dedication to each role. He embraces challenges and believes in the power of performance to move audiences.
Trained in multiple classical dance forms including Kathakali and Kuchipudi, Jagadeep has worked at Darpana since 2019 and performed under the guidance of Mallika Sarabhai.
A storyteller and theatre practitioner whose journey began in radio, Harsh has acted in Macbeth, Conference of the Birds, and plays by Angikamm Academy. He brings versatility across full-length plays, street theatre, and documentary work.
Darshini blends Bharatanatyam and folk dance with contemporary practices like Bachata. She is also pursuing a PhD in Performing Arts with a focus on Bharatanatyam.
Principal of JG College of Performing Arts, PM Kumar has performed in iconic Darpana shows like Macbeth and Conference of the Birds. His work blends teaching and stagecraft with insight and intensity.
A Bharatanatyam dancer and teacher, Sneha has performed in Macbeth and Meanwhile Elsewhere. She sees dance as a language of the soul and a continually evolving practice.
With 11 years of training and two years of teaching, Nupur is dedicated to preserving the traditions of Bharatanatyam while continuing to learn and perform.
With over 23 years at Darpana and mastery in instruments like Chenda and Ghatam, Manikandan has accompanied legends like Mrinalini and Mallika Sarabhai. He currently leads the Music Department at Darpana.
A choreographer at Darpana, Samrat works across classical and contemporary styles. From Indian folk to Bollywood fusion, he brings storytelling through movement to life in shows like Macbeth and Meanwhile Elsewhere.
A trained Bharatanatyam dancer with experience in experimental productions, Shreejith found catharsis and inspiration in Meanwhile Elsewhere. He views art now through a deeper lens.
A long-time Darpana performer with a career in software, Saumyarajsinh balances tech and theatre with equal passion.
A performer, folk dance teacher, and painter, Dharti has contributed to shows both onstage and behind the scenes. Her background in psychology adds depth to her multidisciplinary artistry.
Rosemary has directed documentaries, assisted on television series, and handled backstage for Macbeth and Meanwhile Elsewhere. She’s also exploring AI-generated animation and remains deeply engaged with socially conscious storytelling.
An actor and production handler for films like 21 Divas and Crime Point, Rahul has also worked backstage and performed in Macbeth and Meanwhile Elsewhere at Darpana.
Co-writer of a blog on Invisible Cities, Pooja explores the overlap of urban space and imagination. With a background in policy and planning, Meanwhile Elsewhere allows her to expand from theory to embodied storytelling.
Tarun leads MISA Architects and teaches at CEPT. His illustrations of Invisible Cities—originally part of a blog—found a new stage life in Meanwhile Elsewhere as projected set design.
