DEVA IN LOVE

Aarti Narotam presents her new offering, A Devadasi in Love? This play is a sequel following on from her previous work entitled Devadasi – A dancer’s journey from the temple to the streets which toured 14 times around South Africa and was reviewed by Sunday Times Extra as, “…Devadasi was moving and enlightening… Narotam is a new kid on the block but she is going to make her mark.”
A devadasi in Love? debuted with 2 successful performances and was selected as part of the iPhulo Premium Drama Festival hosted by Mandela Bay Theatre Complex sponsored by Department of Sports Recreation Arts and Culture, Department of Eastern Cape and Mandela Bay Development Agency in Port Elizabeth during March 2024. The play explores themes of gender-based violence as the character toys with the concept of freedom. The play takes us on the characters journey in the style of Bertolt Brecht’s epic theatre, whereby the play takes place over a number of days and 2 locales. The dance and music form central to forwarding the plays plot much like a western musical. English dialogue, Indian dance and live singing of modern songs tie this story together as we are taken on the journey of character Deva.

Directed by Marlene Pieterse, with sound editing and production by Dave Opperman. Choreographed and performed by Aarti Narotam.