Mustard Seed Art Company in Goa
Savvy world travelers seem to understand that for 5-star hotels, Goa is well-equipped to be a world competitor for excellence in luxury accommodation. Already famous for its beaches, architecture, and reputation for hospitality to tourists, it is also a fascinating urban center with a fascinating history. From the earlier times when it was part of the Mauryan Empire, to the dark days of the Inquisition during the Portuguese colonization, and up to the present day, Goa has had to be many faces to many people. Its current reputation is based, in part, on the migration patterns of hippies, many of whom found their way to Goa in search of enlightenment in the 1960s. But like anything in Goa, the surface may be simple, when the truth is much more complex.
There is a long tradition of theatrical performance in Goa, and many of these forms can be seen today, in folk forms and in their evolutions. One particular theatre group, the Mustard Seed Art Company, has had a history that began over 20 years ago. Its roots are somewhere between the local and the global stage, and its socially-conscious performances have touched audiences and the company’s artists in profound ways.
Spearheaded by academic and playwright Maria Isabel de Santa Rita Vas, Mustard Seed Art Company started off by working on established scripts before doing their own work. Since then, their plays deal with a broad range of themes, from child labor to raising HIV/AIDS awareness. One of their recent projects has been about the life of Abbé Faria, a Goan by birth and considered to be the father of modern hypnotism. Some of their work follows in the footsteps of the now-deceased founder of the Theatre of the Oppressed, Augusto Boal, and his influence is certainly felt in their artistic and philosophical aims, which raise the standards for world theatre.
Related posts: