The Clearing: A Play Reading
How do we make sense of ‘invasive’ species? What are the complexities they bring to different ecosystems? And do Homo sapiens also act as an invasive species? Lantana camara was introduced into India by the British in the early 1800s and was subsequently discovered to be one of the world’s most invasive species. Lantana camara lurks in the background as a character in this play, set in the forests of South India. The behaviour of floral invasive species has parallels with that of human invaders and The Clearing is a play about invasions, intended or otherwise. The reading of the Clearing was presented by Jagriti Theatre. The Clearing is based on scientific input from Dr Suhel Qader of the Nature Conservation Foundation, on information from the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) and on the invaluable stories from the Soliga people of B.R. Hills, Karnataka, India. The Clearing was produced by Mallya Aditi International School as part of their 25th Anniversary celebrations and as part of the Theatrescience India project, originally supported by the Wellcome Trust, UK and NCBS, in particular Dr Mukund Thattai.
About
Jagriti is a Performance Arts space dedicated to Theatre, Music, Dance and Comedy. Founded in 2011 by Arundhati and Jagdish Raja, the space has hosted several productions from India and around the world.
A 200-seat theatre built around a full-thrust stage, it is fully equipped to cater to both artistes and audience. The main stage is designed for intimate performances, with adjoining spaces for informal lectures and gatherings, and an attached restaurant.
Jagriti is owned and operated by the not-for profit ART Foundation, a registered charitable trust.