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PASSING THROUGH

Bowled over by Kerala Passing through

Photo:C. Ratheesh Kumar

Cultural buff Jean Flores was in the city to scout around for cultural programmes that he could showcase in his theatre

Jean Flores is a tourist but he is not your run-of-the-mill tourist who is making the most of a holiday in Kerala to soak in the sun and the sea.

Director of Theatre de Grasse, a theatre in Grasse, near Nice in France, Jean’s first visit to Kerala was to scout around for cultural programmes that he could showcase in his theatre.

“Grasse is near Cannes. So it is packed during the film festival. But otherwise Grasse is a place that attracts tourists for its scenic charm,” extols Flores.

Dressed in colourful floral shirts that seem to exemplify his name and his city, which is famous for its perfumeries and jasmine, Flores says his trip is more like a working holiday.

“I am looking around to see what is it that we can host in our theatre. We have an audience who are interested in world music, dance and theatre and they have had some exposure to Indian music and dance courtesy cultural organisations in Paris that organise such events. I try to give the audiecne a wide variety of shows, a slice of cultural diversity. My theatre showcases multi-disciplinary art forms from all over the world,” he explains.

In addition to conducting shows, Flores says he organises workshops and interactions with the artistes to help the audience gain a better understanding of their art form. Some of the shows are later performed in schools too.

“It is a voyage of discovery. Our programmes feature newcomers and reputed names,” he adds.

Well-informed and well-read, Flores says his first visit to Kerala was in January when he happened to experience the Kuthiramalika festival.

“I was completely bowled over by the concerts I heard then. I felt that Carnatic music is like an experience; much like a journey. One has to sit through the entire concert to enjoy all the sights and sounds of that journey. However, we were a little late on the second day and so missed some parts of the concert. That, somehow, marred the experience,” explains Jean.

Since he felt his trip in January was too short, Flores returned to Kerala to spend more time seeing the sights and reconnoitring for cultural activities. He also took time out to see performances of Kathakali and Koodiyattom and the tourist attractions of Varkala and Kovalam. Although the sudden hartals and closed shops turned their shopping expeditions a little haywire, Flores says Kerala is a place he would like to visit again. For its ‘culture.’

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