I, Joseph Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

in the reinterpretation of tests by Franz Kafka, I, Joseph, Through an innovative fusion of binaural audio and other multimedia, it seeks to immerse its audience in the mind of one of literature’s most troubled characters, Joseph Kay.

Directed and designed by Gaurav Singh Nijjar and written by Varun P Anand, the show doesn’t just invite the audience to watch the story – it strives to draw them into its world, making them become Joseph’s Get stuck in a frustrating bureaucratic nightmare.

The timeless themes of Kafka’s novel – alienation, bureaucratic absurdity and existential dread – are suitable for theatrical adaptation, but I, Joseph It tries to take these ideas to new heights by engaging the senses in a way that traditional theater cannot. Mohit Gaurav from Using Psychological Tension in Art says that the decision to use binaural audio came from a desire to create an experience that reflected the illusions and traps faced by Kafka’s protagonist.

“Kafka’s world is fragmented and oppressive, and binaural audio seems like a perfect medium to create the same sense of disorientation and entrapment. We wanted the audience to not only see Joseph Kay’s journey, but to feel like they were inside his mind,” he explains. By surrounding the listener with voices, footsteps, and changing environments, the production places the audience at the center of Joseph Kay’s story, making it their reality.

I, Joseph Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

deep experience

Binaural audio technology produces I, Joseph Very impressive. Using special microphones that capture sound in a way that mimics human hearing, the production creates a 3D soundscape that surrounds the listener. Gaurav describes this intense sound as a way to increase tension and confusion. “You hear footsteps coming from behind, voices in the distance, or the rustling of papers right next to you,” he says. Auditory immersion makes audiences feel like active participants, allowing them to immerse themselves in Kafka’s world. Pulls towards absurdity.

For Varun, this immersion is essential to translating the subjects tests In a meaningful way. “Kafka’s writing is rich with ambiguity, and the themes of alienation are intensely personal,” he says, “With binaural audio, there’s a certain intimacy that you don’t get with traditional formats. You hear whispers in your ear, Or hear a door slam in the distance, and you’re instantly drawn into the story.

Varun hopes that this experience will leave a lasting impact on the audience. He says, “Kafka’s work forces us to confront questions about identity, society, and the human condition.” “I hope they leave with a feeling of introspection by the end of the show. The immersive format is meant to keep topics in their minds longer.” Beyond sound, the production includes multimedia elements like projections and lighting to deepen the experience.

Gaurav Singh Nijjar Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

For Gaurav and Varun, I, Joseph It is not just a reflection of Kafka’s early 20th century concerns but a commentary on the modern world. Gaurav says, “We live in an age where surveillance is omnipresent, where bureaucracy is often dehumanizing, and where individuals feel lost in the systems that are expected to serve them.”

Varun says, “Kafka was ahead of his time in predicting how isolated individuals would feel in a bureaucratic, impersonal world.”

Commissioned by Goethe Institute New Delhi as part of #100yearskafka, I, Joseph Premiere in September 2024 and is currently available in both English and German, with a Hindi version planned for 2025.

October 26 and 27 at the Prestige Center for the Performing Arts. For more information visit kaivalyaplays.org/i-josef