Maya Krishna Rao lends a new dimension to contemporary Indian theatre – her performances range from street theatre to dance theatre, cross media, and stand up comedy. She acts, sings, dances, writes, and directs herself. Her material is India: contemporary society and politics, myth and fiction. Rao is professor in the Department of Arts, Design and Theatre at the Shiv Nadar University, India, and has won numerous national awards. The uniqueness of her performances derives from her training in kathakali. Although she does not use specific elements of kathakali, she is inspired by the rich principles of the form. Rao’s shows have travelled the world, and she has been commissioned to create performances by prestigious theatre festivals at home and abroad.
