Plays you should watch in March 2012

Singapore Repertory Theatre will be bringing back Guru of Chai and Krishnan’s Dairy in March, both starring the phenomenally talented Jacob Rajan.

Singapore Repertory Theatre will be continuing its six year partnership with New Zealand’s Indian Ink Theatre Company by bringing back Guru of Chai and Krishnan’s Dairy in March 2012, according to a release.

Both plays sold out when they were last staged in Singapore (Krishnan’s Dairy in 2006 and Guru of Chai in 2011).

This is theatre at its best that will make audiences forget all about the worries of a stress-filled day as Jacob Rajan weaves warmth, humour and pathos into stories that will make you laugh, cry and marvel at his craft.

Guru of Chai (6th – 17th March)
Once a millennium there comes a teacher who awakens us all to the power of the divine. But if you can’t wait that long, book an audience with Guru of Chaii! A spiritual leader who will sell you a cup of tea, charm you with his infectious smile, and take away all that is wrong with your life. Enlightenment is at hand.

A poor chaiwallah’s (tea seller’s) life is changed forever when a young girl is abandoned at a busy railway station and brings the place to a standstill with the beauty of her singing. An honest young policeman falls hopelessly in love but is rejected in favour of a disreputable poet. The contradictions of modern India with its iPhones and ancient gods form the backdrop to this story about the dangers of keeping your soul locked in a cage.

Krishnan's Dairy (21st to 31st March)
Krishnan's Dairy takes two of the most universal Indian clichés – the Taj Mahal and the corner store - and fuses them into a funny and touching love story.

Gobi and Zina Krishnan have moved to New Zealand in search of a better life for themselves and their child. They work hard and keep their dreams stacked on the shelves of their struggling business – Krishnan's Dairy.

Woven into their story is the epic tale of the Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world and an enduring testament to the love of one man for his wife. A love story unfolds behind the counter with hilarious and deeply moving consequences for the hopeful, vulnerable lives of this immigrant shopkeeper and his wife.

You'll never look at your corner store in the same way again.

SRT’s Artistic Director Gaurav Kripalani said “My respect for and appreciation of the work of Indian Ink has continued to grow over the past decade that of our partnership. It is plays like these that make theatre a magical art form - with the power to mesmerize and transport audiences on a collective journey to another world”.

Indian Ink Producer and Director Justin Lewis continues, “Singaporean audience understand the collision of ancient and modern, the mix of East and West, the balance of funny and sad that lies at the heart of our work. We love playing in Singapore and look forward to returning in March 2012.”

Ticketing details:
DATE: 6th to 31st March 2012
TIME: 8:00pm Monday to Saturday/Saturday matinees at 4pm
PRICES: $40 - $55 plus SISTIC fee. Student discounts available.