Abstract:

Existential concerns are closely connected with human life. Questions of identity, freedom, loneliness, anxiety, death and the search for meaning often appear in literature and theatre. These concerns are not expressed only through dialogue. In theatre, they can also be shown through the actor’s body, movement, silence, voice and use of space. This paper looks at existential concerns as a part of theatrical performance. It discusses Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot [1] and Girish Karnad’s Hayavadana [2]. The paper focuses on the body, silence, waiting, identity and the search for meaning. In Waiting for Godot, waiting and repeated actions create a feeling of uncertainty and lack of purpose [1]. In Hayavadana, the relationship between the head and the body raises questions about identity and completeness [2]. The paper argues that theatre does not only talk about existential concerns. It makes them visible through performance. The actor’s body becomes an important medium through which these concerns reach the audience.