Mahabharata Part Two: Dharma: The Life We Choose

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

A timeless epic, retold with stunning visuals, live music, and bold new storytelling

Continuing the story from Part 1, King Janamejaya is told of the war fought by his ancestors – the battle of Kurukshetra and its devastating destruction of the planet, the mass extinction that follows, and of the survivors left behind to rebuild.

In Mahabharata’s Part 2 (Dharma), the storytelling tools evolve into captivating projections, dynamic digital soundscapes, and poetic stage design. The stories delve simultaneously into philosophical and political ideas, and abstract and absolute truths. Interrogating the themes of justice and revenge, Part 2 includes a 15-minute Sanskrit opera adaptation of the Bhagavad Gita (The Song of God), which is the most famous chapter of the Mahabharata epic.

In times of division, how do we find wholeness? Are we destined to repeat the mistakes of our ancestors? Can we build a new world? King Janamejaya is confronted with both the battle of Kurukshetra and the battle inside his own heart.

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.