Becoming Baba Quijote

A Physical Theatre, Voice and Performance Workshop

Saturday, 19 September 2026

2:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Instituto Cervantes, New Delhi

Conducted primarily in English, with elements of Spanish, Punjabi and Hindi.

Free to attend with prior registration. Register HERE.

Please note registration does not guarantee a place. You will be contacted by the organizers with a confirmation to join the workshop.

About The Workshop

How does a man who has spent his life bent over a field carry himself once he decides he is a knight? What does he sound like when the language of chivalric romance arrives in his mouth in Punjabi, and in Spanish?

In the third workshop of the Baba Quijote Singh project, participants will work with physical theatre, voice and multilingual choral speaking to discover the central figure of the production: Baba Quijote Singh, an old Punjabi farmer who begins to see himself as a knight.

Rather than approaching the character through analysis alone, the workshop will explore how character can emerge through the body, voice, rhythm, movement and collective play. Participants will experiment with physicality, vocal textures, choral speech and sung fragments, moving between Spanish romance and Punjabi boliyan to explore how the figure of Quijote might inhabit a Punjabi landscape.

The workshop will contribute voices, performance material and ensemble work to the development of Baba Quijote Singh. Participants who wish to continue will have the opportunity to join the company developing and performing the production, premiering in December 2026.

Open to all, no prior experience required. Participation is free, registration is mandatory as places are limited.

Presented by Kaivalya Plays with support from Instituto Cervantes New Delhi and the Embassy of Spain in India, as part of Año Dual España India 2026.

Who is this workshop for?

Performers, theatre-makers, dancers, singers, writers, students and anyone interested in physical theatre, voice, storytelling and performance. No previous performance experience is required.

Event Details

📍 Instituto Cervantes, New Delhi

🗓 Saturday, 19 September 2026

🕑 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Open to all. No prior experience required.

About Baba Quijote Singh

Baba Quijote Singh is a year-long multilingual theatre and community arts project that reimagines Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quijote through the literary, musical and storytelling traditions of Punjab. Blending creative writing, oral history, projection mapping, sound and immersive performance, the project brings together artists, students and the public to collectively create a new adaptation that speaks to contemporary India. The workshops form the foundation of a public installation and theatrical production premiering in December 2026.

About Kaivalya Plays

Kaivalya Plays is a Delhi-based multilingual arts organization founded in 2012, and led by Varoon P. Anand and Gaurav Singh Nijjer. The company creates original, immersive and interdisciplinary performances that combine theatre with emerging technologies, community participation and international collaboration. They have brought works by many Latin American authors to the Indian stage, such as Julio Cortazar (Goodbye Robinson), Jorge Luis Borges (El Aleph, Blue Tigers, The Sand Book, Funes the Memorious), Pablo Palacio (A Man Kicked To Death), Alvaro Desleal (Luz Negra) and Griselda Gambaro (Say Yes). Their work has been presented across India and internationally through partnerships with organisations including Goethe-Institut, Instituto Cervantes, the Embassy of Ireland, MediaFutures and the Moleskine Foundation, among others.

About Instituto Cervantes New Delhi

Instituto Cervantes New Delhi is the official Spanish cultural centre in India, dedicated to promoting the Spanish language and the cultures of Spain and the Spanish-speaking world. Alongside its language programmes, the Institute hosts a vibrant calendar of exhibitions, performances, film screenings, lectures and literary events, fostering cultural exchange between Spain and India.

About the Embassy of Spain in India

The Embassy of Spain in India works to strengthen the diplomatic, cultural, educational and economic ties between Spain and India. Through collaborations with artists, cultural institutions and educational organisations, the Embassy supports initiatives that encourage dialogue, creativity and long-term cultural exchange between the two countries.