Robin Das
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Shri Robin Das is an Indian stage designer, theatre director, lecturer and caricaturist. He has graduated from the Utkal University in Bhubaneswar. Robin Das, a post graduate (Dramatics) from the National School of Drama(1976), joined its teaching faculty in 1977.
In the 1970s and the 1980s Shri Robin Das worked as a stage designer with the most prominent directors of the contemporary Indian theatre, such as: Babukodi Venkataramana Karanth, Ram Gopal Bajaj, Habib Tanvir and Ranjit Kapoor. In the 1990s he focused on direction and cooperated with theatres at the National School of Drama and the Bhartendu Academy of Dramatic Arts in Lucknow, as well as with Rangmandal repertory theatre, which constitutes a part of the Bharat Bhavan, a multi-arts complex in Bhopal.
He has since been involved in practice, research and investigation of theatre, resulting in a plethora of designs, productions of diverse genres, and development of teaching methodologies.
His explorations have included dance, music and the plastic arts, creating new contexts and relevance for tribal culture.
His play presentations constantly seek the inherent modern and post-modern elements inherent in our folk and traditional forms.
His notable works in design and art direction include Shila Shringaar, Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, Hazariprasad Dwivedi’s Anamdas Ka Potha, Jaishankar Prasad’s Janamjay Ka Naag Yogya and Shudrak’s Mricch Kattikam, and set design for E. Alkazi’s Jaag Utha Hai Raigarh. and Costumes/Sets/Props for B.V. Karanth’s Barnam Van (Macbeth) Skandgupt. He worked in art direction on Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Khamosh and Kundan Shah’s Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron.
Shri Robin Das produces mainly classics of the European theatre, including those by Anton Chekhov (“Three Sisters”, 2000), Henrik Ibsen (“A Doll's House”, 2002), Jean Anouilh (“Ardèle ou la Marguerite”, 1993; “Mademoiselle Colombe”, 1994), and most of all, by Bertolt Brecht (“Round Heads and Pointed Heads”, 1990; “The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny”, 2003; “The Threepenny Opera”, 2006; “Edward II”, 2010); however, he is also interested in contemporary drama, for example, the “Archangels Don't Play Pinball” by Dario Fo (1996).
Das has also staged classic Hindu plays, such as “Hāsyacūdāmaniprahasaman” by Vatsarāj (1994) and “Mricchatika” by Sūdraka (1998). As a teacher, he conducts theatre workshops for tribal actors, which consist in experimental combination of professional acting methods with traditional forms of ritual theatre (Orissa, 2003; Jharkand, 2007; Nagaland, 2008). In 2001 the National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama (SNA) awarded Shri Robin Das for having a significant influence on the development of stage design in India. Since 2011 Das has conducted Extension Programmes within the National School of Drama.
He designed the sets, costumes and props for Peer Gynt
