Week 3: July 12 – 15
#//<EMBEDDED>//#
Created and performed by Pratik Motwani
#//<EMBEDDED>//# is a one-person multimedia piece of devised theatre that examines the condition of a trapped virtual identity through the lens of a cyber celebrity stuck within the regulating algorithms of a social media platform, inside a broadcasting room floating somewhere in the inter-webs of cyber space and time. Or a basement-dwelling computer nerd creates a super-cool virtual identity that keeps him from making real human connections because he can’t disconnect. Film projection, GIF animation, Prezi presentation, physical theatre and polyester pants included.
ALGORITHMS. AVATARS. DIS/CONNECT.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Originally from Mumbai, India, Pratik Motwani is an Actor/Theatre Maker/Theatre Educator with a specialization in eastern and western forms of mask performance technique and devised physical theatre. He holds an MFA in ensemble based physical theatre from Dell’Arte International in Blue Lake, CA where he now works as a resident artist, teaching artist and company member.
As a self producing actor/creator Pratik likes to collaborate with other national/international artists and cross-genre/cross-sector partners in an ensemble-based process to create, produce, and tour original works of devised physical theatre. His work seeks to manifest new worlds by integrating multiple mediums/art forms and searches for new/unique forms of theatrical vocabulary and story telling within it. His work often contemplates themes of identity and inclusion, death and transformation, illusion and duality and includes aspects of Commedia Dell’arte, mask performance, heightened physical movement and clown.
As a voice over artist Pratik has lent his voice to actor Dev Patel (The Protagonist) in the Indian version of the Oscar winning film Slumdog Millionaire. As an actor with the Dell’Arte Company, Pratik was recently seen playing leading roles in their production of The State of Jefferson (2017), The Big Thirst (2016), Comedy of Errors (2014) and will be seen in the title role as Ruzante (Arlechino) in a Commedia Dell’Arte adaptation of Ruzante Returns From The War premiering in June 2018 at Dell’Arte International’s Mad River Festival. Pratik has also toured nationally/internationally as lead performer with IMAGO Theatre, Portland, OR in their world renowned physical comedy/mask performance shows FROGZ and Zoo Zoo; has performed and taught in Canada, France, Egypt, Jordan, and India; has been an invited guest teacher/respondent/judge at Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festivals; has been a guest teacher at several universities in the US including Pennsylvania State University, University of California – Berkeley, and Virginia Tech University.
Recent works include:
- Official Selection for 2018 CoHo Summer Fest, Portland, OR
- Official Selection for 2018 FURY Factory festival, San Francisco
- Official Selection for 2018 CAATA ConFest, National Asian American Theatre Festival, Chicago
- Official Selection for off Broadway showcase, 2017 United Solo Festival, NYC
- The Mysterious Magical Brandishers of Magic
- Official Selection for 2018 New York Clown Festival, The BRICK, NYC
- Official Selection for 2017 Play the Fool Festival, Edmonton, Canada
- Featured at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon as a part of the 2014 Green Show
- Selected by the US embassy in Cairo to be a part of AFCA’s 5th annual Hakawy International Arts Festival for Children in Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt