The Renegade Arts and Theatre Society began with a bunch of school friends sitting on a terrace and thinking of how to change the world. And in those days of youthful angst, ‘Renegade’ seemed the perfect title. Over a decade later, they’re together, still renegades by virtue of their uncommon passion. They’re back with The Seven Steps, which will be staged at the Alliance Francaise this weekend - and it’s a special occasion. This play is a vignette of growing up in Bengaluru, developed by the team themselves over a year of back and forth, dealing with old ideas and realising how much they’ve grown.
The focus has shifted from nailbiting stories of high school shootouts (Bang Bang) to the question that troubles every urban 20-something: Marriage. In The Seven Steps, three friends end up discussing the ins and outs of modern-day marriage. The catch? One of them is due to be married in an hour! Aisha Shankar is moments away from wedding Karan; one of her companions has been married for years and the other is intent on playing the field. "The biggest takeaway for us all is that we're part of original writing in some way," says director Ravi D'Abreo, whose association with RATS goes back ove a decade.
Most young Indians, male and female alike reach a point in their lives when they must hear the following: When are you getting married? And the answers simply aren’t as clear-cut as they used to be. “Let’s take the idea of compromise. When you’re in a relationship, your spouse helps you grow. But is that how it works?” Aisha Shankar, the protagonist, is a vivacious young entrepreneur from Bengaluru. In a few days, she will move to Delhi, to live with her new husband, in his family home. “We see so many independent, talented women who are forced to deal with this,” says Siddharth Selvaraj, a member of RATS and the person who put the play together. “These are things we have to consider and we can ask ourselves, do I need to do that at all?” They don’t mean to preach of course. The story, despite being rather focussed on dialogue, is carried forth by the warmth and camaraderie of these friends, who burst into song, talk in Convent school lingo and rib each other. It’s a take on life in Bengaluru, a much needed respite in a city where authenticity is at risk from progress.
“We want our audience to laugh and although we don’t seek to provide answers,” D’Abreo explains, “We would like them to go home and ask questions.”
What: The Seven Steps
When: March 24 and 25
Where: Alliance Francaise
