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Veteran director and artiste Jagdish Raja is set to stage a dramatic reading of Inherit the Wind , a play based on the real-life Scopes Trial from 1925. This year’s performance is particularly special as it not only marks the trial’s centenary but also sees Jagdish reviving a play he first premiered on the Bengaluru stage in 1979. He speaks to us about the evolving audience, the lessons theatre offers, and much more. Excerpts:

‘Audiences have evolved drastically since the play first premiered in 1979’

Jagdish Raja’s decision to initially bring the play to Bengaluru was rooted in the city’s robust theatre community . “We were part of a theatre group and we had the cast. I thought the script was very engaging, and it had a voice, so we went on to make it,” he says. Today, the theatre artiste and director is facing a unique challenge: ensuring the dramatic reading, rooted in a historical event, connects with and remains relevant for a newer audience today. “Since our early days with the play in 1979, audiences have evolved drastically. Today, attention spans have shrunk immensely due to countless entertainment options. Nevertheless, I’m confident we’ll receive a decent reception for the upcoming performance.”

‘This play is based on the greatest trial of the century’

Discussing the revival of Inherit the Wind as the iconic Scopes Trial approaches its 100th anniversary, Jagdish says, “Our play is based on the greatest trial of the century. It became the greatest trial of the century, according to legal experts and journalists, and it also raised the question: Is America giving people the freedom to think? We’re doing the play on the same days the trial took place in 1925.”

‘You can never take the audience for granted’

Jagdish remains confident in the ability of the play, and theatre, in general, to connect. He says, “You’ve got to be good at your craft and never take an audience for granted. They’re paying money to come and watch you. I always thank the audience and say, ‘Thank you very much for being here, because if you weren’t here, we could be doing this in the bathroom’,” he adds.

‘The single most important skill an actor can have is to listen to people’

Offering guidance to young or aspiring theatre artists, Jagdish recalls a piece of advice from Sir Laurence Olivier. “He was asked to advise one word, and he said, ‘Listen.’ If you’re in the lead, remember the play isn’t a solo act; it has a full cast. Listen to them — there’s no one greater or lower, we are all equal,” he says. “I also strongly believe that theatre teaches values that go beyond the stage. It teaches you to be humble, it teaches you to trust and teamwork, which are two great qualities of theatre, and if you do it well, people will always listen,” he adds.

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