Mahabharata Part One: Karma: The Life We Inherit

A Why Not Theatre Production presented by Canadian Stage with Why Not Theatre

Created and Written by Ravi Jain and Miriam Fernandes, using poetry from Carole Satyamurti’s Mahabharata: A Modern Retelling

From ancient verse to modern stage, experience a legend reborn

Mahabharata is a contemporary take on a Sanskrit epic that is more than four thousand years old and foundational to South Asian culture. This gripping story of a family feud is an exploration of profound philosophical and spiritual ideas. A visually stunning spectacle presented in two parts, Mahabharata takes audiences on a journey through the past in order to write a thrilling new future.

Exploring themes of storytelling, ecocide, and dharma (empathy), Part 1 begins Mahabharata's epic journey that asks, "How can one end the spiral of revenge when everyone believes they are right and their opponents wrong?"

King Janamejaya is holding a ritual sacrifice in which he will kill all the snakes in the world to avenge his father’s death. In hopes of ending this cycle of revenge, a storyteller is summoned to tell King Janamejaya the tale of The Mahabharata. The storyteller tells of the rival Pandava and Kaurava clans, and the choices that lead to their infamous Game of Dice. Through playful narration, classical Indian dance, and a live band, the ensemble tells the stories of humans struggling to build a just world in the face of competition, jealousy, and rage.

School Matinees

Select performances are designated for school matinees. For more information and to book, please contact Manuel Chaves at mchaves@canadianstage.com.

Khana & Kahani (Community Meal and Storytelling Session)

Mahabharata is a tale that unfolds over a lifetime, one that requires prolonged contemplation. To explore the profound philosophical questions arising from the Pandava family’s thirteen years of exile, audience members who see Part 1 and Part 2 are invited to gather before select performances of Part 2 (Dharma) to enjoy an authentic Indian meal accompanied by a story and deeper exploration of the themes of the Mahabharata. Hosted by two charismatic storytellers, the illuminating conversation offers the audience an intimate experience much like that of families who have shared The Mahabharata around the dinner table for generations.