Surya Chandra is an interdisciplinary theatre artist based in the UK, originally from Kolkata, India, with over a decade of experience in theatre-making and performance. His practice brings together movement, imagery, sound, visual arts, science, technology and architecture and combines them to break the language barrier in theatre.

​​

His work often experiments with collected data of images, movements, sounds and texts, to develop performances that reflect socio-political narratives from around the world. Exploring themes of climate change, displacement, migration, identity and human resilience, he is interested in how different artistic disciplines can come together to communicate stories beyond spoken language.

 

Surya's work often explores socio-political narratives from around the world, engaging with themes of displacement, migration, identity, belonging, freedom and human resilience. His process is experimental, collaborative and participatory, drawing on workshops, conversations, observation and physical experimentation. His work often experiments with collected data of images, movements, sounds, objects, and texts, exploring how experiences and information can be transformed into physical and sensory forms rather than relying solely on words. He believes theatre should be accessible to everyone and is interested in creating spaces where people from different backgrounds, abilities, cultures and levels of experience can participate, connect and express themselves.

​

He holds an MA in Physical Acting from the University of Kent. He spent several years working with Shudrka Hyderabad, a theatre group in southern India, where he trained under its founder and director, Swapan Mondal. Coming from a scientific and technological background, with a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and professional experience as a software developer and architect, Surya has a longstanding curiosity about the intersections of science, technology, robotics and the arts. His interest in aeromodelling has further fueled this curiosity, particularly around exploring how medical science and emerging technologies can inform and expand possibilities in movement-based performance.

 

He is also interested in how artificial intelligence, data and emerging technologies are changing the landscape of artistic research and creative expression. Alongside exploring their possibilities, he is keen to question their misuse, ethical implications and wider impact on society, human relationships and the environment, particularly in relation to climate change. His interest lies in critically examining the relationship between humans and technology, exploring both its possibilities and limitations, while considering how technological developments can coexist with human connection, emotion and the essential human element of performance without replacing them.

​

Surya is also a certified Michael Chekhov Acting Technique teacher, having received a scholarship from the Michael Chekhov International Academy (MCIA) in Berlin. He has undertaken extensive training in the technique in both India and Berlin, developing a strong understanding of its principles and practices. While this training has played an important role in shaping his understanding of imagination, movement and the performer's inner life, his practice has since evolved beyond the framework of the technique. Through his own research and experience, he has come to recognise that established acting methodologies, while valuable, may not fully address the diverse needs and possibilities of contemporary performance. Rather than following one fixed approach, he is interested in questioning, re-examining and developing new ways of working with the body, imagination and creative expression. This ongoing exploration also informs his work with vulnerable communities, where he aims to create supportive and imaginative spaces in which physical exploration can offer alternative ways of communicating, connecting and expressing experiences.

​

Music is another important influence in Surya's practice. He has trained in Hindustani classical music and Rabindrasangeet, alongside percussion, including Tabla and Djembe. He is a recipient of the Arts Council England Developing Your Creative Practice (DYCP) award, supporting his ongoing artistic research.