by LAUREN CODLING
AN IMMERSIVE “escape room” experience aiming to question power and privilege will be staged at London’s Royal Court Theatre this month.
Entirely audience led, Dismantle This Room is an hour-long experience which will see individuals collaborate to “interrogate the established power structures in theatre”. They will be required to partake in a series of interactive tasks, including puzzle solving.
From there, there are numerous possibilities for audiences to choose within the experience.
They can select different narratives, ranging from staging a violent revolution or being able to go undercover. No two performances will be the same.
Previously shown at the Bush Theatre, director Milli Bhatia said the most common reaction was that audiences always finished the experience wanting to discuss it.
“We often had groups that felt they still wanted to have a conversation about it, so they’d have a pint afterwards,” the London-based director told Eastern Eye.
“Overwhelmingly, it makes people think deeply, which is what we wanted to happen – it is about debate and that is what we hoped to give audiences from this.”
The production, which is a collaboration with writer Nina Segal and producer Ingrid Martin, came about when the trio questioned themes of power and privilege in the arts industry.
They understood they had been given some power by being able to create and share a performance in a prestigious London theatre, so wanted to use the opportunity responsibly.
Ultimately, the creatives wanted audiences to consider the questions they had about the power structures within theatre. To make it immersive ensured that audiences could fully involve themselves and explore the issue.
“We wanted to interrogate form in a different way – we didn’t want to make a play that served the thing we wanted to explore,” she said.
“We sometimes allow audiences to feel too comfortable, but we really wanted to put them in the centre.”
The decisions start as soon as audiences engage with Dismantle – they are invited to pay whichever price they feel is suitable for their own individual level of privilege.
This was significant to the creators as they hoped it would support the discussions that partaking audience members would have. “We do hope that we will see a diversity of people who engage with it,” she said.
The 26-year-old has been working as a trainee director at Royal Court since early 2018. She described the experience as “extraordinary”, but Bhatia is also aware there are more platforms required for Asian voices.
People are writing and creating work, but they do not have the space to share it. “I want to see people in positions of power giving south Asian writers more platforms because there are some really amazing artists coming through – such as Zia Ahmed and Rabiah Hussain,” the director, whose previous credits include Hijabi Monologues, said. “I want to see artists like them take up more space.”
Bhatia began her career when she joined the National Youth Theatre in 2009. Starting out as a performer, she cites the company as being paramount to her teenage years. It encouraged her to interrogate the world at a deeper level. “Theatre has always done that for me,” she said.
Dismantle This Room is on at the Royal Court from Saturday (6) until April 27.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.