Drama and Dadachanji

"I want my audience to laugh, to cry and to drive back home thinking about the play. Theater should be entertaining, yet thought provoking. I have always wanted to do something different, not just the usual slapstick comedies or bedroom farces,” says Neville Dadachanji, who set up his own company called The Space Theatre in 1995.

Presenting his productions in auditoriums and also through what is known as "supper theater,” actor/producer/director Dadachanji has staged several one act plays at venues like Athena, ITC Grand Maratha Sheraton, Golden Swan Country Club, etc. Combining culture with cuisine, the meal is served after the play and the audience is informally seated. The trappings of conventional theater are dispensed with. There is no stage or spotlight, curtain or wings into which the actors disappear, no elaborate costumes. "I design and make my own sets which are generally very flexible and can be adapted for different venues. Supper theatre is a good way of tapping a different market audience. Corporates often round off their conferences or seminars with entertainment followed by dinner. Their employees may be the kind who go for films but not perhaps for plays in an auditorium. By introducing them to theater we are tapping a different niche,” Dadachanji explains. The stylish ambience of a hotel or restaurant enhances the appeal.

Dadachanji (right) and a scene from Swinging Singles

Dadachanji’s production Swinging Singles features a series of solo acts — all by women, tracing a gamut of contemporary issues and problems besetting women in modern day society. A Harmless Girl is an ironical reflection of how the average girl is brought up with an endless list of ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ — in the eternal endeavor to live harmlessly girls often grow to be nonentities. Marm portrays the love hate relationship between a young collegian and her new, young stepmother. Dadachanji speaks proudly of his presentation An Evening to Remember where Femina Miss India 2001 finalist Suvarchala Narayanan performed alongside TV artiste Romi Jaswal and others in an adaptation of a Vincent Geoffrey play. "No, I don’t do readings,” asserts Dadachanji. "They take the same time to prepare, so why not do a production?” The Space Theatre also seeks to promote theatrical dance performances where, in addition to the dances, the audience is provided information about dance forms like jazz, tap and modern ballet and given a platform to participate by learning a few simple dance steps as well.

A graduate of H. R. College, Dadachanji’s creative yearnings saw him participate in Adi Marzban reviews and plays by Burjor Patel and Hosi Vasunia while still in college. Five years of giving "intense tuitions” to ninth and tenth standard students served to augment finances. Dadachanji is also a freelancer in the travel line, working for well-known tour operators and taking groups of Indians on tours to Europe. "I am a very positive person. I don’t believe in anything negative. If I see a small ray of light, I follow it,” he says, adding laughingly that he is also a "restless person” always on the lookout for something new!

With sister Bakhtawar Dadachanji, Neville is also into the making and marketing of home-made masalas and spices — turmeric, chilli and dhania-jeera powder, curry powder, sambhar, dhansak masala, raabdi powder, etc. "Everything is freshly and manually ground,” he declares. Marketing the products under the label "My Recipe,” Neville aims at expansion. "We have regular customers like the Avabai Petit School at Bandra, YMCA canteens, Prithvi Cafe, as well as residents of our Parsi baugs,” he says. Home delivery is provided for large orders.

Terming theater his first love, Neville’s forthcoming calendar includes shows in March and April for organizations such as Cancer Patients’ Aid Association in Poona, at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Bombay for the multicultural group Udayan, etc. Dadachanji can be contacted on e-mail Neville_s_d@hotmail.com Website: www.thespacetheatre.com