William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a tale of power, ambition, and downfall. But in Rajat Kapoor’s What’s Done Is Done, it takes on a completely new life through the eyes of clowns. The play, a part of Kapoor’s ongoing experiment with clown-based Shakespearean adaptations, stars Ranvir Shorey as Macky B, a reimagining of the Scottish general consumed by his own ambition.
For Ranvir, the appeal of What’s Done Is Done lies in its creative process. “It’s a devised piece where we take Macbeth, deconstruct it, and then reconstruct it through clowning. This involves months of workshopping and collaboration, which I find incredibly enriching,” he says.
His familiarity with Macbeth predates the production. “It’s quite omnipresent in the life of anyone educated in English. We even did an abridged version in school. But studying it deeply as an adult gives you a much richer understanding of human behaviour — how power, ambition, and greed shape people.”
This deeper study is evident in the way Macbeth is performed in Kapoor’s adaptation. “For someone who hasn’t read Macbeth, this play offers a basic understanding of the story,” Ranvir explains. “But more importantly, it’s fun. We interpret the play as clowns, poking holes in the narrative and what’s happening on stage. The tragedy is still there, but it’s infused with humour.”
A still from What’s Done Is Done
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
The idea of performing Macbeth through clowning might seem paradoxical, but for Ranvir, it is a natural evolution of Shakespeare’s own work. “Shakespeare wrote tragicomedies himself,” he says, “Any great piece of literature can be adapted in different ways, and Macbeth, being one of the most famous plays by the most famous playwright, provides rich material to experiment with.”
This approach, however, presents unique challenges. “The biggest challenge was presenting darker emotions as a clown,” he admits, “Visually, it’s really interesting. And what better material than Macbeth to explore that?”
For Ranvir, each performance of What’s Done Is Done brings new discoveries. “It’s like a familiar journey where you find new nuances each time. The changes might seem minor to the audience, but for an actor practising the part for so long, those discoveries are the fun part.”
He shares an example of this evolving approach. “There’s a moment in the play when Banquo and Macbeth meet the witches, and their prophecy starts to come true. We’ve performed this scene over 80 times, but as we revisit the play, new ideas emerge. Recently, I’ve been considering recreating the same sense of incredulity later in the play when Macbeth returns to the witches in desperation.”
Ranvir is primarily known for his film work but maintains a strong connection with theatre. “Cinema is my first love, but theatre is where I hone my skills. The biggest difference between stage and screen is technical—on stage, you project to a 180-degree audience, while on camera, you focus on a specific point. But the fundamentals remain the same: your director is your compass, your text is your guide, and your imagination is your tool.”
As What’s Done Is Done arrives in Bengaluru, Ranvir looks forward to performing in a city he holds in high regard. “It’s a very theatre-friendly city. Keeping theatre alive today is challenging, with so much content exploding everywhere. I’ve had a long association with Bengaluru’s theatre scene —been coming here for almost 25 years. I even remember when Rangashankara was still a construction site!”
What’s Done is Done will be staged on March 30 at Jyoti Nivas College, Koramangala, Bengaluru. Tickets on BookMyShow.
Published – March 26, 2025 12:39 pm IST
Bangalore
/
The Hindu MetroPlus
/
bengaluru
