Mahabharata: Karma - Part 1
The Life We Inherit
“An extraordinarily dazzling piece of theatre.” The Daily Telegraph
- In-person event
- English
- ≈ 2 hours and 40 minutes · With intermission
A Why Not Theatre Production
Originally commissioned and presented by the Shaw Festival Theatre
In association with Barbican, London
Following its critically acclaimed runs at the Shaw Festival and London’s prestigious Barbican Theatre, Mahabharata arrives at NAC English Theatre as a once-in-a-generation experience of unparalleled ambition and scale.
Listen to Sharada K Eswar doing a reading of the Mahabharata title (pronounced “Ma-ha-BAR-ah-tha”).
Mahabharata is a contemporary adaptation of the four-thousand-year-old Sanskrit epic, a foundational text of South Asian culture. Written and adapted by Ravi Jain and Miriam Fernandes, with poetic contributions from Carole Satyamurti’s Mahabharata: A Modern Retelling, this gripping saga delves into the rivalry between the Pandava and Kaurava clans and the devastating war that ensues. Mahabharata is a profound exploration of enduring philosophical and spiritual ideas set against an entrenched conflict that remains tragically relevant today.
Presented in two parts, Why Not Theatre’s Mahabharata features a stellar all-South Asian diaspora cast. Seamlessly merging East and West, the traditional and the contemporary, the visually stunning storytelling ranges from the most ancient of forms, with listeners gathered around a fire, to spectacular technologically-driven spectacle. This breathtaking journey guides audiences through the distant past to create an exhilarating new future.
Part One: Karma
The Life We Inherit
Through a ritual sacrifice, King Janamejaya pledges to avenge his father’s death by snake bite by eradicating all snakes from the world. In an attempt to end this cycle of vengeance, a storyteller is summoned to narrate The Mahabharata, recounting the saga of rival Pandava and Kaurava clans, and the pivotal choices leading to their infamous Game of Dice. Through playful narration, classical Indian dance, and a live band, the ensemble vividly portrays the struggle for justice in the face of jealousy, greed and ambition.
Developed with support from the National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund.
Audio Described Performance
For more information and to reserve tickets to the Audio Described Performances, please contact Aimee Bouchard, Learning Coordinator for English Theatre at aimee.bouchard@nac-cna.ca
Content Advisory: Contains discussions and non-graphic depictions of violence, war and sexual activity.
- Created and written by Miriam Fernandes & Ravi Jain
- Using poetry from Carole Satyamurti’s "Mahabharata: A Modern Retelling"
- Original concept developed with Jenny Koons
- Directed by Ravi Jain
- Associate Director Miriam Fernandes
- Set design Lorenzo Savoini
- Costume design Gillian Gallow
- Lighting design Kevin Lamotte
- Associate Lighting Designer Mikael Kangas
- Projections Designer Hana S. Kim
- Associate Projections Designer Ann Slote
- Sound design John Gzowski and Suba Sankaran
- Original music John Gzowski and Suba Sankaran (with contributions from Dylan Bell, Gurtej Singh Hunjan, Zaheer-Abbas Janmohamed and Hasheel Lodhia)
- Traditional Music Consultant Hasheel Lodhia
- Choreographer Brandy Leary (with contributions from Jay Emmanuel and Ellora Patnaik)
- Khana & Kahani Storyteller and Creative Associate Sharada K Eswar
- Production Manager Crystal Lee
- Technical Director Daniel Bennett
- Why Not Theatre Executive Director Karen Tisch
- Lead Producer Kevin Matthew Wong
