0

Empty Night

How would you feel if you ever encountered a ferocious, female Bengal tiger with paws destroyed by bullets? Now imagine that you are a thief, not by choice, but by circumstances—you got a knife in your back while trying to steal so that your kids can eat, and on your way, you came face-to-face with a female Bengal tiger, who entered a human village to find food for her cubs. 

Abhisek Bhattacharya’s award-winning play “Empty Night” is a story of our time, when forests are dwindling, habitats are shrinking —and despite their ferocious strength and immense pride, the tigers can only survive as long as humans allow them to. Two individuals on the brink of death confront life; both make sacrifices, and one learns the rules of survival to discover what it means to be human.

“Empty Night” won the Producer’s Pick Award (Z Fringe 2026, Virginia).

General/All Ages
50 minutes
Theatre
The People’s Building Black Box
9995 E. Colfax Ave, Aurora, CO 80010

  • Buy Now

DIDHITI MUKHERJEE as TIGRESS

Didhiti Mukherjee is a Maryland-based, award-winning singer and actor. Originally from India, Didhiti has extensive training in Indian Classical Music and has performed all over the USA. Her recent credits include “Fragrant Vengeance” (NYC and LA), “Neighbor! Neighbor!” and “Catastrophe” (NYC, off-off-Broadway), and “Wifey Unknown” (MD).  Didhiti’s performance as a physically disabled wife in Abhisek’s full-length play “Wifey Unknown” generated rave reviews. She and Abhisek have performed “Empty Night” at multiple Fringe Festivals across the USA, including in Baltimore (MD), Virginia Beach (VA), Richmond (VA), Boston (MA), and at the AATE conference in Phoenix (AZ).


ABHISEK BHATTACHARYA as THIEF

Abhisek Bhattacharya is an award-winning, internationally produced playwright. Born and raised in India, Abhisek is a clinician, a teacher, and a STEM scientist who has been writing plays since middle school. His plays have been performed worldwide, including in India, the USA, the UK, and Canada. Abhisek's English plays include "Neighbor! Neighbor!" "Photo Finish," The Return," "Catastrophe," "Strange Connections," "The Snare," "The Guardians of Lost Things," "Empty Night," "Wifey Unknown," and "Fragrant Vengeance." 

Abhisek is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America and lives in Maryland, USA.

Abhisek also performs as an actor/ director and is currently the artistic director of Hattimatim-Team, a theatre troupe based in Maryland, USA, that develops new, unpublished work by new and emerging playwrights. The company provides opportunities to artists from the community with minimal stage experience. Its play development process, workshops, and rehearsals are often rigorous and demanding, but also fun. For the last few years, Hattimatim-Team, Inc. has toured the country performing in multiple Fringe and short-play festivals, including some off-off-Broadway festivals in NYC.

  • Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=foditjwjhv8
    • I just stepped out of this beautiful performance and I want to go back in and get lost in this story and characters again.
    Leslie 06/04/2026, 18:35
    This is a beautiful performance that is deeply symbolic. Through it, I had so many reflections concerning colonialism, role of women in society, capitalism, consumerism. I highly recommend it.
    Mona 05/29/2026, 17:40
    I absolutely loved this show, which I attended at BOOM Festival in Charlotte with my third grader. I attended out of intrigue, sparked by the poster and my love of tigers. What I experienced was a gripping, intricately wrought tale that moved me to tears, over and over (in a good way!). What a powerful story--age old and ageless. Kudos and gratitude to the writer and actors for creating and sharing with us an moving experience!
    Priya Sircar 05/26/2026, 05:47
    I have been honored to witness this amazing play in Charlotte Boom Fringe Festival. This is highly recommended play where I witnessed the emotions flow seamlessly given the current scenario of the world. This is definitely recommended ! Didhiti and Abhisek are amazing artists!
    Priyanka Sil 05/25/2026, 18:21
    I was indeed moved by the play's exceptional conceptual brilliance. The night was really empty and absolutely dark for the wild tigress who had to leave the forest desperately in search of food for her cubs in the human locality due to indiscriminate deforestation, while the exploited and oppressed landless peasant, turned thief under pains of circumstances, had to become a thief to earn a livelihood for his children. Both were hurt severely, not so much physically as by the greed, cruelty, lust for money, and inhumanity of the privileged section of human society. The uniqueness of the script lies in the unison of the grievances of both wild animals and human beings against the onerous slots imposed by man himself. The writer-director analyzed the problem dialectically, with empathy, compassion, introspection, and wisdom. Needless to say, the acting of both characters was excellent, and the execution was very simple but superb. Looking forward to watching many such thought-provoking productions in the future.
    Swapan Mukherjee 05/20/2026, 21:21
    I saw “Empty Night” at Charm City Fringe in Baltimore and really enjoyed how it used the conversation between the wounded tiger and human to explore environmental and political themes in such a thoughtful way. The acting felt very genuine and engaging, and the whole piece stayed with me long after the show ended.
    R Jun 05/20/2026, 16:22
    I had the distinct pleasure of seeing Empty Night at the Richmond Fringe Festival. This intimate, powerful story thoroughly engaged me with its originality, embodied knowledge, and unique storytelling. The connection between the two highly talented performers brought to life a story that I had not heard before, and I came away with a strong sense of inspiration. I highly recommend catching this performance. You will not regret it.
    Dr. Tippi Hart 05/20/2026, 14:35
    It was a wonderful experience! Hats off to both of you! I enjoyed this production of the play at the Boston Fringe Festival 2026. “Empty Night” is a two-person drama involving a Tiger and a Thief. It deals with several themes- colonialism, climate change and its effects on animal-human interaction, predator-prey relationship, parental responsibilities- all very relevant in today’s world. I loved how the play intricately wove so many important messages, and the actors delivered a power-packed performance. The play resonated what the world is going through now and the questions it asked stayed with me long after the show ended. I would highly recommend it.
    Sudakshina chakrabarty 05/20/2026, 09:01
    I saw Empty Night at the Charm City Fringe Festival 2026 in Baltimore, MD, and it left a lasting impression on me. The play is an intimate two-person drama centered around a tiger and a thief, yet it explores themes far beyond their individual stories. It touches on parental responsibility, and the fragile relationship between humans and nature. I especially appreciated how the play delivered these complex themes in such a simple but emotionally compelling way. Even after the performance ended, I found myself continuing to reflect on the questions and ideas it raised.
    Empty Night is thoughtful, moving, and highly relevant to the world we live in today. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a meaningful and memorable theater experience.
    Y J 05/20/2026, 08:10
    I saw “Empty Night” at the Boom Fringe Festival in Charlotte, and it left a strong impression on me. It is an intimate two-person drama where the main focus is on dialogue, meaning, and emotional connection rather than physical performance.
    The piece explores important and timely themes — the relationship between humans and nature, responsibility, survival, and inner choice. I especially appreciated how simple yet precise staging created a deep sense of atmosphere and tension.
    The actors deliver subtle and sincere performances, holding the audience’s attention throughout the entire show. After the performance, it leaves space for reflection, which, in my opinion, is one of its greatest strengths.

    I would definitely recommend “Empty Night” to watch. It is also suitable to attend with kids, as the themes it explores are truly important for our shared future.
    Yasmina Svetlitsa 05/19/2026, 10:44
     Prev
    1 2
    Next 
    Write a review

    The People’s Building Black Box

    9995 E. Colfax Ave, Aurora, CO 80010

    Entrance: The main entrance is on the north side of the building at E. Colfax and Florence St in Aurora

    Parking: Parking lot behind the building on the north side; street parking

    Accessibility: ADA accessible; elevator to lower level

    Admission: You must show your ticket confirmation or purchase a ticket at the venue; all seating is general admission, audiences will wait in a queue before entry to the show