Mahabharata Postponed
Dear friends of Why Not,
We hope this message finds you safe and healthy in this extraordinary moment. We hope that wherever you are in the world you have care and support around you.
For the past five years, Why Not Theatre has been engaged in numerous workshops on Ravi Jain and Miriam Fernandes’ adaptation of Mahabharata, with our eyes set on a premiere at The Shaw Festival in August 2020. Our Mahabharata is an epic two-part theatrical event, and the first contemporary production of Mahabharata in the West that would feature a fully South Asian diasporic cast. This process has brought together an extraordinary group of artists – actors, designers, musicians, composers, storytellers, and South Asian elders – from Canada and around the world.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, Why Not Theatre and The Shaw have been monitoring the situation closely, making deep considerations to our artists’ and audience’s health, our production needs and timeline, and the constantly changing restrictions on domestic and international travel and large-scale gatherings.
This week, in our discussions with The Shaw Festival, it became clear that it is no longer possible for us to realize Mahabharata this summer, and that we will begin working together on a postponement plan.
Despite this news, the teams at both Why Not Theatre and The Shaw are extremely committed to bringing a spectacular production to life at a later date. Although we will not premiere this summer, this is not the end for our Mahabharata and we hope that you will support us as we plan toward a new premiere.
“Sad as this may be, we all need to take this moment and think about the larger picture. These are unprecedented times for our industry and our world, and this pause allows us the time necessary to ensure we can be safe and healthy when the time comes to gather again. We know how difficult this news is for our team, partners, and audience, and I want to acknowledge everyone’s hard work and dedication to Mahabharata over the past five years. We remain positive and hopeful that we will realise this production in the near future, when it is safe for artists and audiences, both here in Canada, and on the international stages for which Mahabharata is destined. The Shaw has been such an incredible partner throughout this whole experience and we are grateful for their support and passion to see this project go on.”
Ravi Jain
Thank you for your understanding and support of our work.
We can’t wait to see everyone again at the theatre, and at Mahabharata, in due time.
Until then,
Ravi Jain, Miriam Fernandes, Kendra Bator, Kevin Matthew Wong, Kelly Read and Owais Lightwala, on behalf of the company of Mahabharata and the Why Not Theatre team.
