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The story goes that once, British theatre actor and comedian Marcel Steiner rode his new Panther motorbike with a sidecar attached to rehearsals of a play. This was in 1971. Ken Campell, the English actor directing the play, took one look at the flaming red vehicle and said: “Marcel, that thing is so big you can build a theatre on it.”
Steiner took that seriously. After locking himself in his carpentry workshop for a week, he emerged with the first model of the Smallest Theatre in the World. The six-ft high and two-ft wide theatre-on-wheels accommodates a box-office window, a stage with changing backdrops, a backstage area and place to seat two viewers.
The ’70s saw the Smallest Theatre in the World tour the UK, Europe and America and grow in popularity with its hilarious renditions of classics such as The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Tempest, A Christmas Carol and Hamlet. They even performed acts that narrated the history of World War II in under 15 minutes. “People would swarm out on the streets to watch the motorbike that would ride into an empty street and fill it with music, drama and comedy,” says Rose.
“Even though only two people could sit inside, the acts would be visible to the crowd gathered around it. The bike became an interactive theatre prop. So the audience on the street would watch the two people enjoy the play, which added to the madness,” she says. During this time, prominent British actors such as Robert William Hoskins (known for his award-winning role in Mona Lisa) and Sylvester McCoy (of Doctor Who fame) worked with the production house, whereas Nobel laureate Samuel Beckett and actor Meryl Streep among others played audience.
During the ’80s, the theatre ran into trouble — it was charred on two occasions. That apart, lack of funds kept it off the streets. “The final blow came with the passing away of Marcel Steiner in 1999,” Rose says, “For almost 15 years, it lay forgotten in an abandoned warehouse in Essex, UK. Several attempts were made by artistes to revive it but in vain. In 2012, she and her husband Dave decided to retrieve it. This unique theatre has been on the road ever since.
Wheeling in an old Royal Enfield, they plan to take their plays to the streets of Chennai and Madurai. They will also be working with local theatre artistes from Ruff Foundation, Chennai. “We’re also taking it to schools and orphanages in Madurai and trying to teach children how to build a small theatre and stage,” she says. Their next stop is Delhi, where the troupe plans to meet the Street Art festival organisers. The original plan of travelling to Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad is on hold for now.
Along with King Kong, the Roses will perform some skits during their India trip. “We presented our older production at the Kala Ghoda Festival eight years ago. The memory of performing on the streets of India has stayed with us. With The Smallest Theatre in the World, we plan to revisit that experience,” says Dave.
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