Alberta Theatre Projects announces departure of Rohit Chokhani as his The Jungle Book opens

The theatre artist had left the helm of the Vancouver Fringe Festival in April 2021

By Janet Smith

CALGARY PRESS are reporting the departure of artistic director Rohit Chokhani from Alberta Theatre Projects.

The longtime Vancouver playwright and theatre artist had taken the position of artistic and executive director in November 2021.

The parting of ways came on the eve of the opening of The Jungle Book, the major new musical holiday show he wrote and directed for the Calgary-based ATP; the production at the Martha Cohen Theatre is set to move forward. It reimagines the classic Rudyard Kipling book. In a press release from Alberta Theatre Projects, Chokhani had said, “This idea has been two years in the making and I’m thrilled to be given this opportunity to adapt and direct a timeless classic.”

Chokhani was also scheduled to direct Anosh Irani’s drama Bombay Black, a hit when he helmed it at the Vancouver Fringe and again at the Firehall Arts Centre, for the Calgary company in March.

In April 2021, the Vancouver Fringe Festival board announced the departure of Chokhani after a year at the helm as executive director of that organization. At the time, the Fringe board here tied the departure into a larger strategy to “rethink and refresh” the fest.

In December 2021, the Vancouver Fringe Festival announced the appointment of Cory Philley to head the organization. The longtime theatre writer, performer, director, and producer helmed the Fringe through its successful return to a full live format on and around Granville Island this past September.

Chokhani was also the force behind Project SAT (South Asian Theatre) and the cocreator of Vancouver’s Monsoon Festival of Performing Arts. ATP has released no further explanation for the departure at this time.  

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