Kolkata Centre for Creativity (KCC) paid homage to the influential playwright, poet, and theatre director, Bertolt Brecht on his 125th birth anniversary through a six-day festival ‘Breaking the Fourth Wall - Rediscovering Brecht: Through his Timeless Relevance’ from August 26 to 31
This festival presented an informative and inspiring experience with different art forms and platforms for engaging discussions. Various events unfurled Brecht’s philosophy and its marked effect on theatre
Abhilash Pillai, the curator of the festival said: “Breaking the Fourth Wall is a festival celebrating Bertolt Brecht’s 125th birth anniversary. We tried to uncover the mysteries behind his works’ limited staging, delve into his pioneering acting techniques and socio-political narratives”
Workshops and masterclasses led by experts, aspiring playwrights and theatre enthusiasts with inventive minds discussed contemporary theatre practices. Some distinguished scholars delved more into Brecht’s theatrical propositions. The festival saw the participation of personalities like Anjan Dutt, film director; Maya Krishna Rao, theatre practitioner and activist; Pabitra Sarkar, academicians and writer; Padma Shri Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry, theatre director; Nissar Allana, renowned set designer; S Raghunandana, theatre director and more such dignitaries
The inauguration on August 26 was followed by a performance called ইস্তেহার-इश्तिहार-اشتہار : Songs from Brecht by Subhadeep Guha
Panel discussions were held on topics like Performing Brecht, Directing and Designing Brecht, Remembering Brecht, A Future Brecht and Philosophizing Brecht
Several sessions of conversations were held between scholars, theatre personalities and experts. Masterclasses were held that included a masterclass on ‘Acting and Music of Brecht’ by Anjan Dutta
‘Death Mask’, an installation by Hiran Mitra exploring eastern India’s mourning tradition of imprinting feet with ‘alta’ dye was presented. This art form bridges the gap between life and death by symbolising an intimate connection to the Earth. It defies isolation, embraces multilateral perspectives, and represents emotions like anger, love, and ambition. “Hiran Mitra’s installation offers a rare opportunity to the audience to become part of this artistic practice, indulge in dialogue and reinterpret the art work itself. It's a true Brechtian experience. Breaking the fourth wall is just this to interact directly with your audience,” said Supriyo Sen, award winning filmmaker, who directed 'Tangra Blues'
By unveiling the natural person behind the mask, it celebrated diverse selves and unveiled the profound grammar of consciousness, echoing Brecht's call for human connection
KCC chairperson Richa Agarwal said: “This festival is a tribute to the remarkable contributions of Brecht to the world of theatre, literature, and critical thinking. Through a series of workshops, panel discussions, performances, and exhibitions, we not only honoured Brecht's genius but we also aimed to ignite a renewed passion for critical thinking and artistic exploration.”