Avalanche: A Three-Act Play by Tuncer Cücenoğlu Directed by Gandharv Dewan

Avalanche

Avalanche is a powerful three-act play set in a mountain village that lives under the constant threat of an avalanche for nine months each year. To prevent disaster, the community enforces near-total silence and strict regulations, including prohibiting childbirth during the danger period. The drama spans a single household across three generations: an Old Man, a Young Man, and a Young Woman who struggle against suffocating conformity. The production features a multi-level set design, whispered dialogue, and immersive theatrical techniques to create claustrophobic tension, concluding with actors directly acknowledging the audience.

Writer

Tuncer Cücenoğlu (1944–2019) was a prominent Turkish playwright and author known for political and social dramas addressing authoritarianism, censorship, and individual freedom. His works have been translated into over 30 languages and performed in more than 40 countries.

Director

Gandharv Dewan is an alumnus of the National School of Drama (NSD) who has directed productions such as The Class Enemy, The Tame Duck, Footnotes, and an adaptation of The Yellow Moon. As an actor, he has appeared in plays, films, and OTT projects including Gulmohar, The Railway Men, The Zoya Factor, and Thoda Adjust Please. He also serves as visiting faculty at Whistling Woods International.

Director’s Note

Gandharv Dewan notes that Avalanche reflects the present socio-political climate where fear and self-censorship silence voices. The production explores silence as a performative language through spatial and sonic design in collaboration with architect Madhav Raman and sound designer Hitesh Chaurasia, featuring twelve actors performing almost entirely in whispers.

The Group

The group “The Gathered” consists of theatre practitioners with backgrounds from institutions such as NSD, FTII, and Delhi University, working together for over 11 years in socially relevant theatre, film screenings, and script readings.