THE World's A STAGE

In a Bazaar India exclusive, nine theatre performers put on an act and share their personal experiences over the years.

KALKI KOECHLIN

ACTOR

"I was once a sheep in the school Nativity play, but that didn't deter me from taking part in school plays and drama festivals from a young age. It was my teacher, Miss Ruby Mangaldass, who suggested I pursue further studies in drama, and that seemed like the funnest way to face university, so I applied and got into Goldsmiths' College in London.

'Do nothing, Until you have to': that's what my theatre guru Shaupon Da taught me. And it's the best advice I have received.

I could get into character in many ways...it could be an accent, or a walk. But mostly, it's just learning lines and showing up to rehearsalsthe rehearsal space offers so much, the other actors, the director, that's where you discover the character.

Sometimes, I walk off the stage and can't remember where I am for a second, then I realise I have to get some prop which then prompts me for the next scene. My favourite play would be the first one I wrote with Prashant Prakash, Skeleton Woman, not because we are such great writers but because it came from us, we knew it inside-out.

I also truly enjoyed working with [director] Rehaan [Engineer] on Far Away by Carly Churchill. And I deeply admire Gulshan Devaiah, though he stopped doing theatre a long time ago and only works in films now.

I get stage fright almost every time I'm about to go on stage... An energetic warm up helps, but still my stomach turns."

JIM SARBH

ACTOR

"My first ever play was at the age of seven. It was Dig, Dig, Dig, Like a Wombat, in which I played the lead...a wombat. I acted in plays all through my schooling and college years, and while pursuing post graduation, I secured an internship at a theatre in Atlanta. This ultimately led me to take it up professionally. Theatre, like everything else, is ever-evolving. But what's thrilling about it is that it's live.