Language barriers vanish in Vivek Vijayakumaran's dialogue-free play
Bengaluru-based theatre artiste Vivek Vijayakumaran's play, It is You, resonates across languages, borders, and beliefs, without a single word being spoken. The play emerged from the desire to respond to the growing religious division and marginalisation, inviting the audience to an emotional space.
Excerpts from a conversation:
'MOVEMENT CAN PORTRAY WHAT WORDS CAN'T'
For Vivek and his collaborator Tyson, silence is a powerful universal medium that connects everyone. 'We knew we were tackling a complex theme. However, we also wanted this piece to transcend contexts — to smaller towns, villages, metros, and even beyond India. Movement can embody complexities that sometimes even language cannot hold. The idea is to reach people on a deeply human level, no matter what language they speak, which religion they practice, or where they come from,' shares Vivek.
'WRITING GOES BEYOND WORDS, I WRITE MOVEMENTS'
'I write actions, sequences, movements, and describe in detail what happens, where, and why. It's all about mapping a performer's journey on stage. Every movement and gesture has an intention behind it. I write when the sound should come in, and what instrument will be played. The script is more like a blueprint, a guide that holds the soul of the performance. It shows the path, but what happens on the floor is what truly brings it alive,' explains Vivek.
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Working without a director was a challenge for Tyson and me. There was no one else to point out mistakes. But, we because our biggest critics; we spent so long on the floor that the play is now in our bones
Vivek Vijayakumaran
'THE PLAY IS A CALL FOR COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY'
'The play engages with questions of power and control, but it ultimately turns the mirror towards the audience. The title of the play itself is a direct provocation. Maybe it is you who is the problem. Maybe it is you who is the solution. It is a call to recognise our role in the systems we critique. It is a demand for introspection, accountability, and empathy,' says Vivek.
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