3 min readAug 23, 2024 07:02 PM IST
First published on: Aug 23, 2024 at 12:18 PM IST
WHEN Mumbai-based theatre director Sunil Shanbag read the English translation of Barricade — a political play written by Utpal Dutt and translated in English by Ananda Lal — he was “struck by the power of the script”. Recalling its impact on him, Shanbag says, “I was unprepared for the contemporaneity and sharpness of Dutt’s dramatic and political vision. It was clear to me that I must do a production of Barricade.”
Written in 1972, Barricade stages the Nazi takeover of Germany in 1933, but subtly it draws a parallel to socio-political scenario in India at that period. The play is a conversation between different intellectuals and bourgeoisies of the society like an engineer, an author, an artist and a journalist. At a time when the Congress was cracking down on political plays, Barricade was performed by Dutt’s theatre group – People’s Little Theatre — on December 25, 1972. The play reportedly ran for over 20 years.
Scene from the play, Barricade. (Photo by Raj Lalwani)
Shanbag decided to do Barricade in Hindustani, it required hours of reading and discussions with the team. They needed time to absorb the context of the play, both historical and contemporary. The director roped in Asad Hussain, writer and translator, to translate the play in Hindustani for the new production, which opens on Friday at Prithvi Theatre.
“The process of creating the production script of Barricade involved first a full translation, then making that the base of a production script. Apart from editing for length, we have made no other changes in the script,” says Shanbag. The duration of Barricade, which was originally three-hour long, is now 2 hours 15 minutes long with interval. “We have tightened the text but the spirit of the play remains intact,” he adds. The team has worked through eight weeks of intensive rehearsal process before the play’s opening.
This is first time Shanbag – known for directing several acclaimed plays including ‘Cotton 56 Polyester 84’, ‘S*x M*rality & Cens*rship’ and Maro Piyu Gayo Rangoon — is engaging with Dutt’s play as a director even though the director has watched some of the legendary thespian’s plays in Bengali. “Dutt’s mastery over craft, the way he creates characters and his political vision were quite a revelation for me,” Shanbag says.
Barricade shows at Prithvi Theatre at 8 pm on Friday; 5 pm and 8 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets available on bookmyshow.com
Scenes from play Barricade. (Photo by Raj Lalwani) 
Scene from the play, Barricade. (Photo by Raj Lalwani)
Share
