SPOTLIGHT
A CANADIAN TALE IN NAUGHTY TAMASHA STYLE!
Neha Poduval and Amlan Das in Aala Tamasha Aala. Image credit: HEENA CHAUHAN.
Nautanki Bazaar, a Toronto-based Dora-nominated theatre company makes its Fringe debut with Aala Tamasha Aala.
Written by Neha Poduval, directed by Himanshu Sitlani, and performed by Tushar Tukaram Dalvi, Neha Poduval and Amlan Das, Aala Tamasha Aala will be at Native Earth’s Aki Studio as part of the Toronto Fringe from July 3-14.
In this Tamasha-style performance, which is a form of folk theatre from the state of Maharahstra in India, Aala Tamasha Aala follows Abhay, once an aspiring Lavni Dancer who finds himself a world away in Toronto. Reminiscing about his lost dreams, Abhay grapples with the mundanity of his dead-end job, while yearning for the vibrant rhythm of his homeland and losing more than what he bargained for.
The production features Neha Poduval and Himanshu Sitlani, whose debut production An IMM-Permanent Resident was nominated for five Dora Awards. This show boasts an all-South Asian cast and crew, furthering Nautanki Bazaar’s mission to promote South Asians in the arts. Lighting design, Megha Subramanian; stage manager, Reva Lokhande; choreography, Nidhi Baadkar; sound design, Taposh Gangul; photography, Heena Chauhan and PR and publicity, Tushar Tukaram Dalvi (RTC Digital Media).
Originally from Mumbai, Sitlani has been deeply involved in supporting the creative arts in Canada. He currently serves as the Managing Director at Native Earth Performing Arts, while also pursuing his goal of building a bridge between creative artistes in Canada and India. His debut virtual show, as a playwright and performer, Stories of a Dish was presented at various festivals including the Next Stage Theatre Festival 2022, Mississauga Multilingual Fringe Festival, the Edinburgh Fringe, The Little Lion Theatre Festival in London, UK and the Tata Literature Live Festival in Mumbai, India.
Neha Poduval is a playwright and actor, with several feathers in her creative hat, having performed in various theatre plays, corporate films and TV shows across India. A post-graduate in Acting from the reputed Film and Television Institute of India, she continued her association with the performing arts since moving to Canada.
Tushar Dalvi is a seasoned theatre practitioner from Mumbai who now resides in Toronto. He has been acting on stage since 2006 and worked with noteworthy theatre directors in Mumbai. In 2016, he founded Rangaai Theatre Company which specialises in creating immersive and sensory-based theatrical experiences for intimate and alternate spaces. Apart from being an actor and director, Dalvi also dabbles in the Toronto Theatre Circle as a freelance marketing consultant, having worked for some Crow’s Theatre, Necessary Angle Theatre Company, Aluna Theatre, Red Beti Theatre, and SpiderWebShow Productions.
Amlan Das is a passionate actor with nearly 20 productions under his belt over the past six years. He’s also dabbled in writing and directing, bringing a fresh and dynamic perspective to his work. He is currently nominated for a MARTY Award (Mississauga Arts Awards) in the Performing Arts (Emerging) Category.
Tushar Dalvi in Aala Tamasha Aala. Image credit: HEENA CHAUHAN.
When and where: July 3-14 at Native Earth’s Aki Studio, Toronto. July 4: 2:30 pm. July 5: 7 pm. July 6: 2:15 pm. July 7: 9:15 pm. July 9: 7 pm (relaxed and masked mandatory merformance). July 11: 9:15 pm. July 13: 5 pm
Tickets at Box Office: 416-538-0988 or https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/aala-tamasha-aala.
More info at https://nautankibazaar.square.site/aala-tamasha-aala and www.nautankibazaar.ca.