When Shakespeare visits the BMC shaala in Mumbai

An earlier presentation of Julius Caesar in Andheri. PICS COURTESY/Deshik Vansadia

Irrespective of their age, most students of the English language fear spotting William Shakespeare's name on their syllabus. Theatre maker Deshik Vansadia was also in the same boat. But he is now overseeing a contemporary adaptation of Julius Caesar for schoolchildren in Aram Nagar. "The idea is to show them Shakespeare as a spoken, living experience," he adds.

In 2025, he travelled to collaborate with the SouthWest Shakespeare Company to direct Measure for Measure, Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. "As part of the tour, we travelled to Oregon for the Shakespeare Festival. That's when I learned of Play On, their educational arm," shares the director. The initiative hosts residencies for writers to adapt, and contemporise the Bard's verses to the next generation.

Among the 37 writers chosen this year was Boston-based theatre maker, and The West Wing actor Shishir Kurup, who adapted Julius Caesar into Urdu. "It is smartly done. The inside jokes, the conversations, and iambic pentameter is retained, while offering a relatable context. With a seven-member crew, it is an effective production," Vansadia explains. Having obtained rights, they opened on August 20 for a private audience of school children in Andheri.

"Think of it this way…most schools have a question of 30 marks on Shakespeare, but children are hardly ever taught the plays through performance. That's why they fear it, or do not understand it. Shakespeare is easy to learn when you recite him," Vansadia points out.

Deshik Vansadia

With a second showcase opening on September 27, Vansadia shares that it has got children curious and engaged. "Our objective is to take this to BMC schools, and Tier-II cities. We are looking for partnerships to make that happen. After all, everyone should learn to enjoy Shakespeare," he sums up.

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