Metro, Wayne Burrows, 31 October 2007

FIVE QUESTION FOR….
JIVA PARTHIPAN

Well known for provocative performances such as Rent and Al Qaeda State Ballet, Jiva Parthipan presents Terror of Living as part of Collide Festival this week.

What does the show involve?
I am presenting two pieces. I made the first for Tate Modern a while ago – it’s called Necessary Journeys, and is an autobiographical story about the winning a travel bursary tot travel to Mexico and being unable to go anywhere due to a few bureaucratic mishaps. The new show is about terrorism, and was commissioned by Birmingham rep and Collide.

Did any particular case inspire terror Of Living?
I read about a group of men who were arrested on suspicion of making bombs from chapatti flour, and it was the British love affair with curry and the shadow of terrorism that interested me. I cook chapattis onstage, and carry all my props to the theatre in a rucksack, including chapatti flour.

You are not noted for shying away from controversy. Do you seek out hard-hitting subjects?
There is a lot of personal experience behind it. I grew up ion Sri Lanka,
My uncle went missing. I have problems when traveling, so much of my work has roots in the situations I’ve experienced. It is not controversial for the sake of it, but it is important to talk about those moments when personal life touches a bigger picture.

Is it true that you’ve worked for Amnesty International?
Yes, I just did a film for them. It shows my body in stress positions approved by the US interrogation guidelines.

Would it be fair to say you cover similar territory to Mark Thomas?
I have never thought of it in that way, but I hope there is humour in the way I deal with the questions I ask.