Workshop: The Actor's Toolbox at Saptaparni Hyderabad

Workshop

The Actor’s Toolbox — Spolin’s Improv & Navrasa

Tuesday August 26th, 6pm to 8:30pm at Saptaparni Hyderabad.

Read more and register for the workshop at the link (https://dub.sh/toolboxhyd) or contact 9818925599.

About The Workshop

An introductory, application-based workshop for actors, performers, dancers, and storytellers to discover Viola Spolin’s contemporary improvisational theatre and the Indian classical Navrasa method for performance.

Across 2.5 hours, participants will:

• Unlock spontaneity, focus, and ensemble connection through Spolin’s Improv games.

• Explore the nine emotional states of Navrasa and learn to express them with depth and authenticity.

• Experiment with combining improvisation and emotional storytelling for more dynamic performances.

Note: This workshop is open to actors, performers, dancers, movers, storytellers, writers with all levels of experience, as the tools shared have wide applications for the creative process.

This workshop is presented by Kaivalya Plays in collaboration with Goethe-Zentrum Hyderabad, Hyderabad Children’s Theatre Festival, Rangbhoomi and Saptaparni.

About the Facilitator

Gaurav Singh Nijjer is a theatre-maker, creative technologist, and designer from New Delhi whose work explores the intersection of technology, media, and live performance. As one-half of Kaivalya Plays, he collaborates with artist collectives across India, the UK, and Europe. He recently completed the German Chancellor Fellowship with Berlin-based Rimini Protokoll, researching digital and hybrid theatre. A Chevening Scholar and graduate of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Gaurav’s recent works span multimedia-rich performances, interactive storytelling, and experimental formats using live audio, video, code, and automation on stage.

About Kaivalya Plays

Kaivalya Plays is a performing arts and production company led by Varoon P. Anand as its Artistic Director and Gaurav Singh Nijjer as its General Manager. Since 2012, they have built transcultural associations across India and the world. Their artistic work includes original, devised theatre performances that are multilingual, interactive, and hybrid, use technology and media on stage, and are built using techniques of improvisational, documentary, and physical theatre. Through a focus on education, training and community, their work spans diverse offerings of programs across artistic development, language learning, mental health, gender, accessibility, and transcultural collaboration. They have received multiple artistic commissions and grants through their collaborations with Instituto Cervantes Nueva Delhi, Goethe Institut Delhi, MediaFutures and other cultural partners. Their recent artistic work includes I, Josef (2024), The Pillowman (2024) ABSURDO (2023), Mining Hate (2023), Funes The Memorious (2021), Lifeline 99 99 (2021), Unravel (2019), amongst others. Most recently, they were awarded the Creativity Pioneers Fund 2023 by the Moleskine Foundation. Read more about their work on www.kaivalyaplays.org