How do you build a community where vulnerability, empathy and kindness is in abundance? I speak to members of citylamps, a Bangalore based Playback theatre company. Yep, Curious Cat is continuing talking to folks on what it takes to build community and what different communities look like. Jump in and join this heart warming conversation. 

Show Notes: 

citylamps  is a theatre group based in Bangalore, India (but currently largely Zoom!) that practises and performs playback theatre and also hosts monthly readings and open playback jams, workshops and corporate trainings. We are steadfast belief in community building and the joyful and transformative power of personal stories. Instagram handle: https://www.instagram.com/citylampsplaybacktheatre/

Apart from playback theatre, Akash Narendran is a singer, corporate facilitator, passionate about social justice movements; and a future filmmaker. He also studies Transactional Analysis in its application to psychotherapy. 

Deepthi Bhaskar is a trained classical singer who has a soft corner and talent for the culinary arts. She is a regular Playback Theatre artist and facilitator specialising in music for Playback Theatre. Her convection that everybody can and should sing has her conducting music jams and class across the city. She channelises her restlessness through developing and curating music for national and international theatrical productions, and wandering to soulful destinations.

Rashmi is a theatre director, actor, translator and facilitator. The intersection of Kannada and English theatre as well as that of playback and proscenium theatre is an area that she loves working with. A Gender Bender grantee, she has directed video series and many acclaimed plays that have toured.

Anisha is a student of psychology and cheerleader for early access to the Arts for everyone. When she is not in a group song circle or cycling around Bangalore she enjoys training in playback theatre and improv that she started just during the lockdown. She is excited about the intersection of community building, introspective reflections and spontaneous art that playback chanelizes. She is an avid traveler and pot luck champion 

Laxmi loves spontaneous theatre, the idea that she will get to the books she has bought and friendships which are easy. She has been described by people as a good listener and annoying plenty of times. 

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