Q. What inspired you to bring these plays to India?
A. Five women, all catalysed by the rape and death of Nirbhaya, came forward and told their true stories of sexual and gender-based violence on stage. Audiences were moved by the raw truth. After every show, however, at the audience interaction session, someone would ask, “Where are the stories of the boys and men?” The question stayed with me. The startling fact is that in India, one in two boys are affected by sexual violence. At a time when we are speaking up about sexual violence against women, sexual violence against boys is barely spoken about, although it’s clearly an epidemic too. Ending sexual violence against boys is the key to ending sexual violence.

A scene from All The Rage

Q. What are the highlights of these plays? What are the issues they tackle?
A. Both plays are testimonial in nature — drawn from Moran’s real-life experiences. The Tricky Part, one of the most heralded one-man plays in recent memory, tells the true story of sexuality, spirituality and the mystery of human experience. Between the ages of 12 and 15, Moran had a sexual relationship with an older man, a counsellor he met at a Catholic boys camp. Now, 42 and an established New York actor, he has transformed his story into a riveting, funny and surprising journey through the complexities of Catholicism, desire and human trespass. Deftly crafted by director Seth Barrish, who will be touring as well, Moran offers a first-hand perspective on sexual abuse. All the Rage is Moran’s second award-winning one-man-show. It’s a complementary piece and as powerful. Moran struggles with being able to tap into anger but everyone tells him he should feel rage. So, Moran decides to find the rage and in doing so, he goes where most theatre doesn’t venture — a journey deep into the self. The result is a theatrical experience showcasing how a life is rebuilt after emotional destruction.