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RHINOCEROS
Eugène Ionesco
An adaptation of Eugène Ionesco’s Rhinoceros, reimagined for an intimate four-actor structure. The work focused on physical transformation, ensemble precision, and the gradual psychological collapse of individuality under collective pressure.
Bérenger & Adapter
Dir. Santanu Bose
Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi | 2024
Performance Approach
The performance was built through a physical vocabulary drawing from commedia dell’arte, tracking the transformation from human to rhinoceros. Repetition, rhythm, and fragmentation were used to create a sense of inevitability.
As Bérenger, the focus remained on resistance, maintaining stillness and clarity against the growing chaos of the ensemble. From the beginning, his physical language stood apart, shaped by fatigue with the system and the loss of connection, marking him as an outsider within the world of the play.
Working Process
The work relied heavily on ensemble coordination, with actors shifting between roles and states within a clearly defined structure. The script and overall form were established first, providing a framework for performance.
Director Santanu Bose initiated the conceptual vision of the set and overall mood, while choreographer Priyadarshini Pooja developed the physical language of the piece. Movement became central to the staging, guiding transitions and shaping the ensemble dynamic.
Gallery
Performance Excerpts
Documentation in development
Please note:
For English subtitles, enable captions in the video settings. Subtitles provide a basic narrative guide; some nuances of the performance may not be fully captured.
This recording captures the staged action; the full experience extended across the auditorium through spatial and live elements.
A few brief segments may be missing due to technical limitations during recording, including minor audio inconsistencies.
The production allows for variation across performances; certain lines, sequences, and the concluding character were adapted in response to different auditorium conditions and staging contexts.
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