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Mumbai may not be the greenest big city in India (that title's reserved for Delhi), but it is one of the few cities in the world to have over 1,300 hectares of natural urban forest. Mumbai's incidentally also the country's arts hub, and at that intersection of art and nature comes Artists for Aarey, a collective started by Harshad Tambe. Putting on the Tarpa Theatre Festival after it was first conceptualised in 2018, it's the first theatre festival in the city to take place in a forest!
The festival's an extension of the Save Aarey Movement, a campaign to save the Aarey forests, which have served as home to the incredible biodiversity found there, as well as the indigenous Warli adivasi tribe. Tarpa is an attempt to give back – an ode to nature by educating audiences on themes of sustainable practices, indigenous culture through theatre and folk storytelling.
It’s art that’s meant to stay with you and change you, urging audiences to care about protecting their environment through folk music, poetry and stage performances.
What to expect
Some highlights of the festival include Kavan, a musical performance of Ambedkarite songs and Maharashtrian folk protest poetry which is happening May 15 at 6pm. Lavani Ka Rang explores gender and identity through traditional Lavani dance on May 16 at 6pm. There’s even a Marathi folk retelling of the famous Japanese memoir Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window, 11am, May 16.
When's this happening?
The three day festival will take place this weekend Friday, May 15, to Sunday, May 17, from 8am to 8pm.
Where can I catch this?
Unit 5, Aarey Milk Colony, Goregaon East, in an open-air amphitheatre in the heart of the urban forest, surrounded by trees over 80 years old.
Price: ₹499 entry fee, tickets available on SkillBox.