Karnataka - Bangalore

A play for curious people

Passionate: Peter Rinderknecht takes art to children.

Bangalore: “I am not a storyteller; I take art to children,” says Peter Rinderknecht. The actor-director-playwright has been regaling young audiences in Switzerland for over two decades and travels the world with his plays. With his open form of storytelling, Rinderknecht creates his own world in which reality and fantasy merge.

Pro Helvetia, the Swiss Arts Council, in collaboration with Ranga Shankara, is staging his hour-long Portofino – Ballade on January 18 and 19 at Ranga Shankara 7.30 p.m.

It is a play with music and puppets for “curious people” over seven years old.

Playing a double bass that opens up like an advent calendar, a musician takes us into the land of What If? “What if double basses were clocks? What if cuckoos were men?”

Directed by Andreas ‘Paulchen’ Günther and Peter Rinderknecht, with music by Res Wepfer and scenery and puppets by Benno Widmer, the play is “a story about separation and longing, that everyone can relate to."

Describing the theatre scene in India, Rinderknecht said: “There is immense potential here. I saw so much passion and desire to learn, during the workshop. It is just sad that there aren’t many institutions to teach and promote this art.” For details regarding tickets, call Ranga Shankara on 26493982.

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