We dared to be different in Twelfth Night: UK's Filter Theatre

Oliver Dimsdale, the Associate Director of Filter Theatre, one of UK's best and boldest devising companies, says having performed in different cities from Berlin to Chandigarh, the global production company dares to be different.
"Some purists like Shakespeare in a particular way, others like to say if we don't interpret and reinterpret as an artiste we might be in the danger of stagnating," he told PTI on the sidelines of the acclaimed performance Twelfth Night brought to the country by British Council.
"We dare to be different. Our's is not just a presentation, it's a live experience," Dimsdale, whose troupe is one of UK's best and boldest devising companies, said.

"He can be done in very boring ways. When you are too reverential about something. I am not sure about re-inventing - reinterpret, reenergize, rework might be more appropriate," he said.
Dimsdale, who recalled about a BBC show where many among the audience opted for the Bard when asked whom they would opt for--Shakespeare (his works) or the Bible when left in a deserted island, said, "It is no accident more people tended to Shakespeare," Dimsdale said.
Happy with the audience feedback in the country, Dimsdale said, "Indians react to complex moments even say better than UK, at times."

"I just want people to approach with an open heart" he

said looking happy after the first show.
Dimsdale, when asked about several adaptations of Shaksepeare's Twelfth Night in Bengal, including the last one by a prominent theatre personality-politician Bratya Basu named as Mumbai Nights with the populist music-culture hub set as the backdrop, seemed interested.
"That's good. Shakespeare can be interpreted in different ways," one of the spearheads of Filter Theatre Company apart from Ferdy Roberts and musician Tim Phillips, said.
"More than grand speeches and traditional costumes we talk about theatre for people living in the 21st century," he said about their own production..
About Kolkata, he said, "We find Kolkata fantastic. Combination of heat, vibrant colors, light. Occasionally shocking how the maze seems to work so seamlessly. So much change from London."

Agreeing with the observation that Filter production has a punk style which is their trademark, prominent Bengali theatre personality-actor Kaushik Sen said, "The kind of perception people have regarding Shakespearean language is well presented by the group in simplified manner. They made proper usage of available physical space on stage and around the audience to connect with the common man".
The Twelfth Night performance was part of the 'Sabhaghar Theatre Festival' being held in G D Birla Sabhaghar from December 1 to 5.
Director, British Council India Rob Lynes said, "Shakespeare is one of UK's greatest icons. And as we approach his 400th death anniversary in April 2016, we will have a year-long celebration entitled Shakespeare's Lives."

Twelfth Night will be performed in Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Hyderabad, Goa and Mumbai later this month as part of the India tour.