Pack your suitcases and head to this play

A world weary boy with his suitcase full of memories is about to arrive on a stage near you

A world weary boy with his suitcase full of memories is about to arrive on a stage near you

'Do I know you?' is a question a couple of theatre actors, directors from India and Germany have been asking each other for the last four years as part of a collaboration under the Wanderlust programme of the German Culture Ministry. For the last four years these performers have been hard at work, sometimes travelling to each other's country to create a play on stage called the Boy with a Suitcase themed along migration. As part of the Do I Know You project, the play takes a serious look at the repercussions of being uprooted and migration from a young boy's perspective in a light, humorous manner.



Starting this weekend, Ranga Shankara and Schnawwl Theater Mannheim of Germany bring to you the English play Boy with a Suitcase written by British playwright Mike Kenny to a city stage. The story of a fifteen year-old boy Naz who has to suddenly leave his war torn country in search of a safer haven in London where his sister stays and who takes along with him a suitcase full of memories is a universal narrative that just about anyone could identify with, claims Kirtana Kumar, city-based theatre personality and consultant dramaturgy (an expert who brings the main elements of a play onto the stage) on this project. She says, "There is not a single person in this world who does not understand the fear of being uprooted, the fear of losing home or love. The word home holds a powerful emotion and takes you back to smells, things that make you feel safe and comfortable."

Naz takes along with him a suitcase packed by his mother which contains memories of his home and travels in a bus through different geographical boundaries to reach London. His hero Sindbad the Sailor whose adventures he has grown up reading, propels him along in his own. Along the way Naz finds a friend for life, has to deal with wolves, a harsh soldier, big cities, manipulative adults and helpful elders.u00a0u00a0u00a0

Premiered this year at Mannheim, Germany, on April 10, Boy with a Suitcase comprises cast and crew from both Germany and India. Meant for children as well as adults, the play is not about the suffering of a young boy who is forced to migrate instead the narrative looks at a social and serious issue in a light, humorous manner.

Bangalore- based actor Shrunga B who plays the boy Naz describes the play as beautiful. He says, "The play speaks for so many children who undergo the travails of illegal immigration, the little joys they have in spite of all the hardships, the strength in their little hearts in overcoming life threatening situations. It speaks about having faith and hope even in the face of hopeless circumstances."

Kumar says that she was blown away by the script when she first read it. "It wasu00a0news to me that children migrate for work, to escape their war torn countries and sometimes for purely economic reasons in European countries. This loss of home and the emotions associated with it have been explored in the play. But the play is young, funny, physical and very alive. It is not heavy handed and is instead light hearted in its ability to talk to people."

She also asks the audience to look out for the superior music that accompanies this play and the stagecraft. "The music in this play takes this play to another level. It will take you from fear to adventure to love, much more than the script. The stage just uses five boxes as props and creates the illusion of countries, journeys and migration."u00a0

Where Ranga Shankara, JP Nagar
On June 17, 7.30 pm, 18 & 19, 3.30 & 7.30 pm,21, 22 & 23, 7.30 pm
Log on to www.indianstage.in and www.bookmyshow.com for tickets
For Rs 100