Kaivalya Plays, in partnership with Exotel, presents

Lifeline 99 99

A one-on-one interactive theatre performance on your phone, at your home.

About The Show

Lifeline 99 99 is an absurd telephone line that interrogates a critical question that confronts us today – in the age of growing indifference and shrinking empathy, can one still create a genuine human connection? Dial in for a unique experience where you get to choose from seven distinct, live and interactive stories that'll tell you something about the fate of humanity in the times to come.

"An example of how theatre has adapted to and thrived in socially distanced times"

- Mint Lounge

"Lifeline 99 99 shines as an experimental art practice among the evolving theatre explorations in the Indian sub-continent. This is one phone call you definitely do not want to miss." - Firstpost

“Perhaps the intent of Lifeline 99 is precisely this, to remind us what it means to be human and what it means to offer our humanity.” - Homegrown

How does it work? The audience calls a phone number, where they hear an IVRS voice that asks them certain questions and subsequently connects them to any one of the experiences available – a one on one conversation – a conflicted sex chat operator, an aggrieved idealist, a dude alien, a morbid insurance agent, a memory alteration researcher, an ethical scammer or art itself, personified.

So what's different? As an audience member, you experience a live story on the phone. Depending on your level of interactivity and how the conversation flows, it can last anywhere between 30 to 60 minutes. No two shows are alike as each conversation is unique and personalized to you and how your answers drive the story.

What happens after I buy a ticket? You will receive an email with more instructions for the show day as well as a Whatsapp reminder.

The show premiered for audiences in India in February 2021 with four housefull weekends and 140+ hours of one-on-one calls. This experience is now available to audiences in India, United States and United Kingdom.

Performance Dates

Saturday 7th August & 8th August, 

Shows at 6PM, 7PM & 10PM IST.

Saturday 14th August & 15th August, 

Shows at 6PM, 7PM & 10PM IST.

Saturday 21st August & 22nd August, 

Shows at 6PM, 7PM & 10PM IST.

Saturday 28th & 29th August

Shows at 6PM, 7PM & 10PM IST.

Limited tickets, only seven audience members in each slot. Tickets priced at INR 499/- (India) and INR 999/- (International) available on PayTM-Insider.

Cast & Crew

Directed and Designed by Akshay Raheja and Gaurav Singh.

Performed by Kumar Abhimanyu, Nikie Bareja, Rochan Mathur, Ramita Menon, Raghav Seth, Gaurav Singh and Vanshika Verma.

Writing by Akshay Raheja.

Technical Production by Gaurav Singh.

Original run managed by Stuti Kanoongo and second run managed by Saumya Upadhyay.

Presented by Kaivalya Plays, an Indian performing arts and production company known for their work in spontaneous improvisation, adaptation of foreign language texts and innovative theatrical experiences. With multilingual shows and performances in their calendar every month, they also offer a slew of training opportunities in improvisation, acting and arts management for individual professionals, schools, institutions and corporates. Learn more at kaivalyaplays.org

The show is supported by technical partner Exotel, Asia’s largest cloud-based customer communication platform. The show was developed under Thespo’s Audio-Torium laboratory and was also screened as part of the Re-Connect Online Performance Festival.

Press & Media

"(Lifeline 99 99) stands out as one of the more innovative forms of theatre which have mushroomed in the post-Covid, socially distanced era." - The Daily Guardian

"Lifeline 99 99 is a one-of-a-kind play that blends Interactive Voice Response Service (IVRS) technology with live storytelling over the phone." - Mid Day India

"Creative expressions find a way even in the toughest of times. One example is Lifeline 99 99, an interactive play, by Delhi-based Kaivalya Plays, that takes place over a phone call." - New Indian Express

"It's a format born of the pandemic. A new kind of theatrical experience invites listeners to dial in and listen to a story as it unfolds live. If they choose, the listener can also engage with the action, helping to shape the play as it unfolds." - Hindustan Times

For more information, questions and queries you can get in touch with us at lifeline9999@kaivalyaplays.org or send us a Whatsapp us at +91 9818925599.