Ravi Jain on the challenge of adapting the longest poem in the world — the Mahabharata — for the stage
Jain's Mahabharata is a modern retelling of the ancient Sanskrit poem of the same name
- Directed by Ravi Jain
- Written and adapted by Ravi Jain and Miriam Fernandes, using poetry from Carole Satyamurti’s "Mahabharata: A Modern Retelling"
Presented in partnership with the Shaw Festival, Mahabharata is a contemporary take on a Sanskrit epic that is more than four thousand years old and foundational to Indian culture. This gripping story of a family feud is an exploration of profound philosophical and spiritual ideas. Why Not Theatre’s large-scale retelling stars a cast entirely of performers from the South Asian diaspora and presents a complex hybrid of cultures balancing East and West, traditional and contemporary. Mahabharata is a visually stunning spectacle presented in two parts that takes audiences on a journey through the past in order to write a thrilling new future.
Company
At Why Not Theatre we push boundaries, build community, and find new ways. Rethink how stories are told. And who gets to tell them. We MAKE great work that takes chances, and tours all over the world. We SHARE everything we have because more artists mean more stories. We PROVOKE change because we believe art should be for everyone. At Why Not we make things, better.
Touring inquiries: Karen Tisch
karen@whynot.theatre
Creative team
- Directed by Ravi Jain
- Written and adapted by Ravi Jain and Miriam Fernandes, using poetry from Carole Satyamurti’s "Mahabharata: A Modern Retelling"
- Original concept developed with Jenny Koons
- Set designer Lorenzo Savoini
- Costume Designer Gillian Gallow
- Lighting Designer Kevin Lamotte
- Projections Designer Hana S. Kim and Ann Slote
- Sound Designer John Gzowski and Suba Sankaran
- Music by Suba Sankaran and John Gzowski
- Traditional music consultant Hasheel Lodhia
- Producer Kevin Matthew Wong
National Creation Fund investment
The National Creation Fund’s investment of $225,000 allowed Why Not Theatre to bring together the international cast, musicians and the creative team for several extended workshops to collectively develop the three parts of the large-scale project.
Credits
A Why Not Theatre production, in association with Barbican, London, commissioned and presented by the Shaw Festival.
Production partners: Canada Council for the Arts’ New Chapter Program, Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, The Slaight Family Foundation, Kingfisher Foundation, Deb Barrett & Jim Leech, Lindy Green Family Foundation, Wuchien Michael Than Foundation.
Developed with support from the National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund.
Performance dates
Past performances
| Presented by The Shaw Festival | Feb 28 - Mar 26, 2023 | Festival Theatre (Niagara-on-the-Lake) |
| Presented by the Barbican | Oct 1 - Oct 7, 2023 | The Barbican Theatre (London) |
| Presented by Canadian Stage | Apr 8 - Apr 20, 2024 | Bluma Appel Theatre (Toronto) |
Articles & reviews
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Making the ‘Mahabharata’: How do you bring a 4,000-year-old Sanskrit epic to the stage?
For the million-plus members of the South Asian diaspora living in the Greater Toronto Area, the “Mahabharata” will be familiar.
Retelling an epic story: U of T Mississauga prof discusses Mahabharata at the Shaw Festival
Almost 4,000 years old, the Sanskrit poem Mahabharata is foundational to Indian culture and commonly known throughout South Asia.
