The year that was! WeMove in 2012 peaked to glory with shows from 5 different productions and 2 different languages. 2012 was when we completed our 50th show on stage! as we looked back at all those 49 steps that we took. 2012 was when we premiered our first short movie and introduced WeMove Digital to the external world. 2012 was the year when a strong internal team was built to manage different operations of WeMove thus making us the first theatre group in India to have a separate business wing.
As we stop for a while and look back at the glorious moments, year 2012 was definitely one of the most successful year for WeMove. With a total of 22 shows and 4 theatre workshops, we have come a long way both in terms of our own productions and corporate shows. Here it is a glimpse of WeMove 2012
WeMove @ 50
February
A moment to remember, We clocked our 50th show, the joy was unbelievable, it was a pride moment for all of us at WeMove as we showcased our finest and probably the first major successful production Malgudi daze on stage, the one play which thought us to stick together and pull of things together no matter what goes wrong! A moment to remember when theatre legend A.S Murthy who later in the year rested in peace inaugurated our 50th show. In his typical style he sat on the lonely chair on stage and voiced his opinion about a Theatre group clocking a 50th show is like a baby growing up to become a teenager WeMove was then a teenager, the responsibility raised one level high. Malgudi daze was considered to be the most loved play by all sections of audience who came to watch.
Mirror and Short and Sweet
March
It was for the first time that the theatre world saw a strong and crisp script describing body image issues. One of its kind experiment, WeMove Theatre challenged itself in producing a play which made people look back at this society and it beliefs. Mirror was premiered in March, much before the premier, a part of Mirror was showcased at Short and Sweet theatre festival, the short part of the play not only won the hearts of the many people who witnessed the show but also won WeMove "The best Independent Theatre group award"
WeMove at Hyderabad
April
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It is safe to be at one's own den, WeMove got out of the den and traveled to Hyderabad for a Malgudi Daze show, the audience at Hyderabad were all set for a memorable event where WeMove performed back to back, probably the biggest challenge of the year 2012 wad to reach the people of Hyderabad, we had done it effectively with our back to back shows being a full house.
Later in April, we staged Mirror Mirror yet again for the Bangalore audience.
Namma Metro, Namma Roots
June
Namma Metro is one of the most loved plays of all time by people and WeMove brought back the play and all the golden memories attached with it in june at a venue where WeMove staged its first play 5 years back, it was a very emotional moment when the "Lightsman" of Yavanica was honored by WeMove for being the first step in WeMove's theatre lighting history. Namma Metro on June 2nd not only brought audience back but took WeMove to a new level with new actors setting a new dimension in "Improvisational acting"
WeMove Digital, A new beginning
June
WeShortz Theatre festival, one of its kind unique short film festival was organised by WeMove as a part of WeMove Digital's formal inauguration, 10 short films were selected using audience poll and these 10 films were in-turn screened, the short film festival also marked the raise of new film makers and also a new platform for them to showcase their talent. WeShortz was WeMove's first no theatre event as well.
Indo German Theatre Festival
June
Indo German festival marked its new beginning in bangalore this year by having an unique collaborative art festival called "Indo German festival" WeMove theatre was the only theatre group to have performed at this festival in a very uniquely built temporary auditorium at Palace grounds, it was for the first time that the concept of "itheatre" conceived and developed by WeMove was taken out in public only to win back more of people's love, applause and confidence.
WeMove @ GE
June
The biggest success story scripted by WeMove business team is to take WeMove into those areas where theatre was considered as 'outdated'. The first of its major corporate performance for year 2012 was in corporate company General electric, we performed mirror thus amazing 100 odd employees of GE. This resulted into a much deeper association with GE.
WeMove @ Mantri Developers
June
Continuing the success story, WeMove theatre performed a corporate show at Mantri developers thus making theatre reachable to all.
Houseful it was! @ Rangashankara
August
One of the most memorable shows of the year 2012 was the back to back Namma Metro shows at Rangashankara on August 14th and August 15th. The August 15th show forced the management to put up a "House full" board in front of the auditorium. People from tumkur attended the show by travelling at their own cost, Namma Metro set a new record making it as the most successful play of WeMove till date. It was at Rangashankara show where the concept of WeMove Theatre photography was revived yet again! WeMove digital got itself some two of the most talented photographers thus making "theatre photography" as a new art.
Theatre, a new craze!
August
WeMove performed yet another corporate show at SSGA financial company as a part of their company celebrations thus making theatre a new craze in the company.
AM I?
October & November
Continuing the stint with GE, WeMove became the medium to spread awareness among the employees of GE about breast cancer. WeMove's AM I play received a standing ovation at GE which talked about breast cancer and the ways to avoid it, it was first corporate performance which was made to order by WeMove.
And that's a Premier
November
P.S I don't love you, a brand new play was premiered in November after almost 6 months of hard rehearsals. PS was the first ROMCOM of WeMove, the play witnessed a houseful of audience even when the climate lost its control on that day in bangalore. PS also marked highest number of debutante actors stepping on stage, PS brought in a whole new generation of WeMove actors. It was this play that brought in some of the most innovative concept of play marketing.
The Return of Humor!
December
Nannavala Kagada was yet again staged in Mysore this time, probably the biggest risk taken in the year 2012 as the play was not welcomes nicely in Mysore when it was staged the last time. NNK was modified, remodeled and redesigned to suite the Mysore audience, NNK Mysore also brought back the most innovative experience for the audience
Learn the WeMove way!
WeMove also spread its wings to innovate new things in learning using Theatre as a medium. One of its kind was the workshop which WeMove conducted in the Rastrothan Parishad school for under privileged kids.
Street Theatre!
WeMove supported Jaaga initiative to make bangalore a cleaner place to live by performing a street play at Malleshwaram Bus depot attracting the on goers and making them realize how environment can be protected.
A year filled with ups, learning, downs, faith, inventions, year 2012 is milestone in WeMove's history. WeMove Resources, WeMove Digital, WeMove Business, WeMove Nritya, WeMove Productions, WeMove Merchandise, so many dreams unleashed, millions of smiles spread.
We heard them all, We made them laugh, We understood their views, We traveled to them, We instituted faith in them and more over We became a part of their life. As we stand on the brink of a year which thought us to be together, live together, party together, celebrate together, work together, dream together and pursue art together, the meaning of "We" in "WeMove" is seeming more concrete and logical today.
From all of us at WeMove, We thank you for the year you all gave us, The year that was, WeMove 2012.
- Written and contributed by Abhishek Iyengar & Rangaraj Bhatracharya