To conclude the Monsoon Festival of Performing Arts, a unique and creative panel was held at the Cultch last Sunday where the talented future production of The Anandpur Experience (working title) was discussed with an eager and receptive audience. Working title or not, the direct translation of Anandpur, “a city of bliss”, remains poignant and apt for what the team is aiming to bring to life.
Right from the onset of the event, there was an open and inviting atmosphere as we were greeted by the executive director of the South Asian Arts Society, Gurpreet Sian. From there we were introduced to the panel of artists whose work spans creative mediums like 2D art, writing, and acting. There was also a historian and even a lawyer. All came together and collaborate on the brainchild of the talented and hilarious Paneet Singh (The Undocumented Trial of William C. Hopkinison).
Joining Singh were, Adele Noronha, Andy Kalirai, Japnaam Kaur, Milan Singh, Preeti Kaur Dhaliwal, and Sunroop Kaur. Each of them offered insights into the weekend they had spent workshopping the Anandpur project with Paneet.
What is The Anandpur Experience? It is an immersive play set in the mountainous region of Punjab around the 18th century. The team is still in the development phase so the workshop was an opportunity to open up their work to the community and share their ambitions for an extremely exciting and intriguing theatre production.
Sikhs raised to learn Anandpur story
The audience was even invited to get up at any time and offer any ideas and thoughts onto a board near the panel to encourage a type of collective thinking session throughout the event. It was a delight to see folks pop up out of their chairs and scurry over to the wall after hearing the creative team speak their mind.
Their creative exploration gave us deep insight into the values and structure that the panel had during their three-day workshop. Ranging from topics regarding story versus structure, the intricacies of running an immersive project, and even the linguistic decision to make the play in English but using Punjabi rhyming patterns.
As someone who was completely unaware of the rich history that they were referencing, it was enlightening to learn that the majority of Sikhs are raised learning the Anandpur story. The ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, founded Anandpur Sahib in 1665. He was beheaded 10 years later because he refused to convert to Islam on orders from the Mughal emperor. His successor, Guru Gobind Singh, founded the Khalsa Panth in Anandpur in 1699.
As Japnaam Kaur mentioned and Paneet would then expand on, most people are often familiar with what happened after the Mughals attacked their blissful city. But there has yet to be any coverage of what life was like before the city was attacked and Sikhs were forced to burn their belongings and leave their utopia. Despite texts explaining what Anandpur life looked like, the panel determined that these works insufficiently reflected the pathos of what Sikh city dwellers endured.
Suspending disbelief is key
With Paneet at helm of the project, it is no surprise that this largely forgotten moment of history can be brought to life. He shared that he has run several immersive projects in Metro Vancouver and emphasized the importance of having that immersion work in tandem with the stories he was highlighting.
Without giving too many spoilers, panelists discussed ways of immersing the audience to have them transported to the actual city of Anandpur. Singh noted that “if we see Harbour Centre, the whole thing will be wrong”, emphasizing the necessity of suspending one’s disbelief. The audience laughed at his charming comment but the panel doubled down and brought up another point of interest.
It was Adele Noronha who fleshed out the idea of being open to receive. Throughout their three-day workshop, panelists explored the idea of an openness to receive. They want to foster this, which is a principle engrained in Sikh culture. It’s known for their openness, particularly with sharing food, for example. The team stressed that this is a guiding principle for what they want the show to embody.
What struck me most was when the topic of Disneyland came up. Milan Singh emphasized Paneet’s infatuation with the amusement park.
This sparked a monologue from Paneet about the theme park which at first felt like a joke but the way he spoke about it made perfect sense and felt very in line with his ambitions for the Anandpur experience.
Disneyland offers lesson in escapism
“I famously, love Disneyland. Huge fan of Disneyland. I love Disneyland,” Paneet declared. “And the reason because of this…It’s escapism. And it’s escapism that works so profoundly. That a person that enters Disneyland, having given something up like a monetary exchange, has earned that person the right to believe ‘I’m a princess and I can escape, and everything and everyone around me is validating that I’m a Princess.’ No one can take that from that person. You’re a princess? Yeah, here’s some bubbles. There’s a whole community buy-in, right? Albeit at the behest of a corporation.
“But I absolutely love it,” Paneet continued. “The star was ride? It’s not a ride, it’s an experience!…So, I love the community buy-in. The obvious buy-in….It’s just that buy-in, it’s so literal. I have left my life from the outside world, and once I’m in, I’m in….It’s about removing your everyday from that experience so you can be a part of the story.”
It is with this type of dedication to immersing the audience and having them let go of their day-to-day to be a part of the story that really has me excited to see The Anandpur Experience. The team earnestly wants to bring their culture forward and share the bliss that is set against a moment of history that deserves to be heard and seen. The panel was a refreshing and invigorating experience that fostered an atmosphere of passion and heart for this amazing production.
The South Asian Arts Society presents the Monsoon Festival of Performing Arts, which concluded on August 18. For more information, visit the website. Jorelle Almeda is a Vancouver writer, comedian, and storyboard artist with a keen interest in history. Follow Pancouver on Instagram @PancouverMedia.
