An adapted masterpiece

The combination of Rajat Kapoor, Atul Kumar and Vinay Pathak has created memorable theatrical performances time and again. One such such performance is 'Nothing Like Lear', a modern day theatrical adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic 'King Lear'. The theatrical performance will take place at Ranga Shankara from January 14 to 19.

“We can easily call Bengaluru our second home. Ranga Shankara is the place where we keep coming back with our plays. In fact we performed our play, 'C For Clown', on the opening day of Ranga Shankara. Whenever we create a new play we make sure we come to Bengaluru with the play,” says Vinay.

'Nothing Like Lear', which is written and directed by Rajat Kapoor, is based on the original classic by Shakespeare and set in the modern world.

“The play is a rendition of a common man as a father, an authority figure in the family and how his relationship with his children shapes up. It is also about what happens when power, authority and age withers with time. So, it is basically what King Lear is all about but it is our interpretation of the classic. You can say that it is a tragic-comedy which is different from the original play but we have kept the soul of the original play alive,” says Vinay.

The entire play is a one man show where Vinay and Atul take the stage in alternate performances and both prepare the entire script separately. So, when on stage, each actor gives his own interpretation of the same script in his performance and it becomes two different shows.

“The play is a part of our 'Clown' series as we call it. During the late 90s we all were thinking of doing something related to clowns. So we did our first play, 'C for Clown', which was received very well. So, we started creating play with the same clown but in different concepts. That is how 'Hamlet The Clown Prince' came up and that is also how 'Nothing Like Lear' was made. 'Nothing Like Lear’s idea was incepted by Rajat two years ago when I had done a 22 minute rendition of King Lear at a festival at Prithvi Theatre in Mumbai. That performance worked so well that we decided to make a full length production on it,” says Atul.