These plays were written by Vijay Padaki in the period 1986 to 2002 and represent explorations in combining form with content. There is a humanistic undercurrent in the plays, an affirmation of the human spirit, the innate ability to question the given, so often remaining suppressed, and the ability to find alternatives. It is known that a lot of his writing has been influenced by field experiences in his professional engagements. The content of the play has often (not always) begun as a case study, intriguing in itself, but demanding an alternative perspective. The alternative perspectives have provided the raw material for the play scripts. The play scripts should explain themselves. Footprints is presented as 'fictional science, raising the serious question of the human species being Nature's mistake, the price to be paid by the rest of the earth.
Bangalore Little Theatre is an enormous exercise in imagination. It remains an aspiration for theatre performers and a source of inspiration for practitioners. The passion, perseverance, toil and grace is the hallmark of this intimate Institution, which has embarked on many pathbreaking initiatives, programmes and productions. If the History of Ideas programme was unique, the translation and adaptation of Indian classics in English is a huge service. In the programme Vijay Padaki has presented a pertinent model, wherein the play scripts transcend the cultural specificity and period in time to speak in a universal language that addresses our contemporary concerns. Although we read the text in English, we experience the content in the original. A truly remarkable feat.
BLT has had a strong play development programme for a long time. It is most appropriate that the plays are being published now. Several volumes of plays can be expected in print very soon. This is a huge contribution to the institution of theatre in India. We can be sure they will be received with enthusiasm world-wide.
Bangalore Little Theatre (BLT) was restructured in 2008. A public charitable trust was created with a non-profit status. Theatre development activities, which were pursued in an on-and-off manner till then, were now placed in a newly created Academy of Theatre Arts.
The planning process identified several well-planned and long-term programme 'thrusts. They may also be seen as 'verticals' in the mission. The verticals are served by some cross-cutting activities, with their own plans and commitments some of long standing within BLT and some adopted afresh in the ATA plan.
For example,
Methodology Development, training methods, including trainer-training and training directors, Play Development, in which BLT has had a long track record.
• Partnership Development, reinforcing the organisation's commitment to collaboration.
• Competence Development, promoting talent in the theatre for new writing, new directors, new artists - both on stage and off stage.
New play development is thus a major commitment in the long-term plans of BLT. More recently, BLT created an entirely new programme called NEW VOICES. It includes the creation of a Writers Forum and the creation of opportunities for play scripts to be performed. The programme thrust is extended to colleges and universities, organising theatre festivals of only new and original plays.
In the early years of play development, a great deal of the new writing came from my desk. Ah, but very few of them were turned into theatre productions by BLT! As a highly-democratised set-up, the group had clear criteria for the selection of plays for performance, and the process was driven by the twin principles of governance - participative decisions and transparency.
I wrote for the enjoyment of writing, not for inflicting the scripts on BLT, and with no desire to be seen as a playwright. At the end of each writing project, I shared the script with a few friends whose opinion I valued, and that was it. I went on to the next writing project. Seeing the play scripts published was never the objective.
In 2019, I stepped down from all management responsibilities in BLT, continuing simply as a Trustee. The Managing Committee of BLT decided to felicitate me for the long years of service to the organisation. First, they put together a Festival of my plays, spread over the months of May- September 2019. If that was not enough to increase my hat size by two inches, they overwhelmed me next with the project to publish all my plays.
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