After taking over theatres across the US, Dipika Guha’s ‘Yoga Play’ is finally coming to Aussie shores, in a collaboration between National Theatre of Parramatta and La Boite Theatre.
Actor Thomas Larkin has been involved with La Boite Theatre for almost 15 years, having been home to his very first production – ‘Hamlet’, in 2010.
After not having worked with them since 2013, Larkin said he’s excited to be returning for ‘Yoga Play’.
“Dipika Guha has really written an incredibly complex play, and it asks a lot of questions,” he said.
“The best pieces of theatre ask questions, they don’t provide answers, and I think that’s exactly what Dipika has done here in her production of ‘Yoga Play’.”
‘Yoga Play’, first written in 2017, shares the story of yoga apparel giant Jojomon.
After the CEO was brought down by a nasty scandal, new CEO Joan is brought in to stabilise the company – though times are rocky, and her strategies are risky.
“It dives into a world of corporate wellness, and identity, and authenticity,” he said.
“Like any great play, it’s a high stakes environment, given that it is a global yoga apparel company, and it explores the absurdity, cultural appropriation, and the lengths somebody will go to to preserve an image.”
Now two weeks into rehearsals for the upcoming Parramatta season, Larkin said he’s loving seeing the show come together.
One of the most interesting parts of his job is that he not only plays one role, but many throughout.
“It’s always fun juggling different hats,” he said.
But, the best part, according to Larkin, is the cast, made up of Andrea Moor, Nat Jobe, Jemwel Danao, and Camila Ponte Alvarez, as well as director Mina Morita.
“It’s such a delightful bunch of creators across the board – the humans onstage and off-stage,” he said.
“You get paid to do a job at the end of the day, but you don’t necessarily get paid to get along with everyone. One of the blissful parts of this job is the human beings that I’m fortunate enough to interact with.”
‘Yoga Play’ will be taking the stage at Riverside Theatre from Thursday, October 17, to Saturday, October 26, and Larkin said he can’t wait for it to make its Australian debut.
“Even though you’ll be hearing the play with that American twang, and various other accents that appear in the piece, I think it’s still a production that a really broad cross-section of human beings will be able to engage with,” he said.
As for what audiences can expect from ‘Yoga Play’, Larkin said they’re in for witty dialogue, and a show that will make you both laugh, and think.
“Our hope is that it will create laughter, and introspection,” he said.
“Hilarious and thought provoking all at once.”
Yoga Play will be on at Riverside Theatre from Thursday, October 17 to Saturday, October 26. Tickets start at $49. For more information or to book tickets for the Parramatta season, visit http://www.riversideparramatta.com.au.
Cassidy Pearce is Parra News' entertainment journalist and beauty columnist. She is a graduate of the University of Technology Sydney.