Puppeteer Kathrin Blüchert brings her play ‘The Day My Father Became a Bush’ to Ranga Shankara

The play, The Day My Father Became a Bush, sets out to interpret the anxieties of war through the perspective of a child. When 10-year-old Toda’s father is called away to war, she is compelled to live with her grandmother in the same city. However, as the looming conflict threatens her newfound safety, she must undertake a risky journey across the border to find her mother. The play is being performed in Bengaluru as part of the Ranga Shankara AHA! International Theatre for Children Festival.

In her travels, the protagonist has many adventures and encounters a number of odd and eccentric people, among whom are smugglers, a commander who is unable to command, and a friend. The Joke van Leeuwen novel has been adapted by director Susanne Koschig and actor Kathrin Blüchert, as an interactive solo piece for the stage. The performance will include storytelling, puppetry, shadow theatre and chalk drawing.

According to Kathrin, a professionally trained puppeteer, her medium permits her to fully embody the voice of the child. “For example, when I am drawing with chalk, once I wipe it away, it is gone. It is a metaphor for what happens to this girl or to somebody who has to leave their home behind.”

Presented in India by Goethe Institut, Kathrin usually performs the play in German, but, in view of their Indian audience, opted for an English rendering. The adaptation draws heavily from the Bill Nagelkerke translation of the Dutch novel, with slight modifications. The script is pre-written, except for dedicated improvisational sessions where the audience is invited to participate.

Describing what she likes about the play, Kathrin says it is relatable across age groups because it does not force unfamiliar themes upon individuals. “A child who has no idea of the cruelties of war, won’t have any after having seen the show: it would be like a modern Little Red Riding Hood,” she says. She goes on to clarify, “ Adults, however, have left this performance crying, because of their experiences.”

With its extensive use of props and puppets, Kathrin warns of an emotional journey, but guarantees a happy ending.

The Day My Father Became a Bush will be performed as part of Ranga Shankara’s annual Children’s Theatre Festival on July 25, from 7.30pm.