● Mumbai will host 28 performances from 24th March to 7th April 2018, presenting a diverse range of theatre forms from all over the world.
● The plays to be performed today are ‘Almost Alive’ and ‘Vidyottama’.
Mumbai, 30th March 2018: The city today will watch the non verbal play ‘Almost Alive’ directed by Sabine Molenaar. The play wonders what would happen when you withdraw yourself from the turmoil of the outside world and enter a timeless and boundless inner world.
Another play to be staged today is Vidyottama directed by Mohan Maharishi. The Hindi play narrates the story of a woman of extraordinary courage and fortitude who rejects a carefree and luxurious life and chooses a much bigger role for herself.
The plays to be performed on Saturday are Xuan Zang’s Pilgrimage directed by Wang Xiangyun, performed by Nanning Academy of Ethnic Arts, China at Nehru Centre, Taj Mahal Ka Tender directed by Ajay Shukla, performed by NSD Repertory Co., New Delhi and Ghazab Teri Adaa directed by Prof. Waman Kendre, performed by Group and NSD Repertory Co., New Delhi, at Ravindra Natya Mandir.
Mumbai is one of the co-hosts of the 8th Theatre Olympics, world’s largest theatre festival, being held in India for the first time. The Mumbai chapter of the 8th Theatre Olympics is organised by the National School of Drama (NSD) in collaboration with the Directorate of Cultural Affairs, Maharashtra. The city will witness the culmination of the festival on 8th April.
*Synopsis mentioned below.
**Programmes are subject to last moment change.
XUAN ZANG'S PILGRIMAGE
Show: Saturday, 31st March - 4:30 PM at Ravindra Natya Mandir, Prabhadevi.
Synopsis: Xuan Zang’s Pilgrimage is a traditional Chinese Yongju opera that portrays a historical figure, Xuan Zang (Hsuan Tsang), who started his westward pilgrimage from central China to India and returned to his homeland in glory, from 628 AD to 634 AD. The plot mainly develops in three episodes: the adventures on Xuan Zang’s journey, his study in India and his return in glory, shaping a vivid image of a great monk who upholds his faith and pursues truth on his way to explore Buddhism.
Director: Wang Xiangyun
Group: Nanning Academy of Ethnic Arts, China
Language: Chinese
Duration: 2 Hrs
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GAZAB TERI AADA
Show:
Saturday, 31st March - 7:30 PM at Nehru Centre, Worli.
Synopsis: Ghazab Teri Adaa is inspired by Aristophanes’ Lysistrata. The action of the play takes place in an imaginary time and place. It revolves around the never-ending aspiration for the expansion of kingdom and is a constant battle for the continuous fights in the battlefield. The groups of performers make the king aware about the future of the war. The fearful king rejects to see and understand the situation. All the women, with fear and pain, get together to stop the war under the leadership of Laya. They think of various alternatives to stop the war and finally decide that they will not allow their husbands to maintain any physical contact with them until the war stops. The violence-loving king and his war-loving soldiers break down in front of this unique, peaceful and non-violent protest by the women.
Cast:
Deep Kumar, Rajib Kalita
Abdul Kadir Shah, Sikandra Kumar,
Raju Roy, Siddheshwar Kashinath Thorat,Dhutadmal Ravi Babasaheb,
Mahendra Singh Panwar, Mohan Lal Sagar, Raghvendra Pratap Singh,
Niranjan Nath, Shanawaz Khan, Vivek Emmaneni, Barnali Borah, Rukmini Sircar, Aparajita Dey, Sampa Mandal,
Shruti Mishra, Sukhanjeet Kaur, Aparna Menon\, Vandana Sharma, Sonal, Shilpa Verma, Pooja, Sonal, Sukhanjeet Kaur
Shruti Mishra, Bornali Borah, Rukmini Sircar, Sampa Mandal, Aparajita Dey, Vandana Sharma, Sonal, Aparna Menon
Director: Waman Kendre
Group: NSD Repertory Co. New Delhi
Language: Hindi
Duration: 1 Hr 40 Mins
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NSD's - 8th Theatre Olympics in Mumbai
KHAMOSHI SILI SILI
(Hindi)
Show:
Sunday 1st April - 3 PM at Nehru Centre, Worli.
Synopsis:
This play is a translation of Fiddler on the Roof written by Joseph Stein. It is a musical that deals with the displacement of communities. The story is neatly bound to the Kashmiri situation in our country. Prithvi Nath loves his daughters, and goes against the traditional norms, allowing them to marry men of their choice. Shuhul, the third daughter chooses to marry a Muslim…
ast: Shanawaz Khan, Shruti Mishra/ Sampa Mandal, Aparajita Dey, Sukhinjeet Kaur, and others.
Director:
Suresh Sharma
Group: NSD Repertory Co. New Delhi
Language:
Hindi
Duration: 2 Hrs 20 Mins
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NSD's - 8th Theatre Olympics in Mumbai
PHERA
(Bengali)
Show:
Sunday 1st April
- 4:30 PM at Ravindra Natya Mandir, Prabhadevi.
Synopsis:
Protima Singha comes back to her native village Bonpahari after almost thirty years. Bonpahari is a
village so backward and poverty stricken that the people can only wait for a miracle to save them from the
depths of utter despair. The miracle comes in the form of Protima Singha who promises to help them out,
but only on the condition that the villagers kill Kashinath, her former lover who had jilted her when she
was pregnant and as a result of which she had been forced into prostitution. Kashinath is helpless against
their greed and their survival instinct, and is ultimately killed. Protima, who now has no reason left to
live, kills herself.
C
ast: Soumitra Chatterjee, Debshankar Halder, Poulomi Bose, Anirban Chakraborty, and others.
Director: Poulami Bose
Group: Shyambazar Mukhomukhi, Kolkata
Language: Bengali
Duration: 2 Hrs 20 Mins
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NSD's - 8th Theatre Olympics in Mumbai
GHASIRAM KOTWAL
(Hindi)
Show:
Sunday 1st April - 7:30 PM at Nehru Centre, Worli.
Synopsis: After Ganesh Vandana the Sutradhar and the Chorus dressed as Brahmins, sarcastically describe the highly degenerated and hypocritical conditions of the society during the rule of Peshwa chieftan Nana Phadnavis. The Brahmins arrive at the Kotha of Gulabi Bai where Nana while dancing with Gulabi Bai sprains his foot. Gulabi Bai's Kannauji Brahmin servant Gharisam does not let him fall on the ground. Nana is highly pleased and presents him with a necklace. However Gulabi Bai and the gangsters of the Kotha forcibly snatch away the necklace moreover, Poona Brahmins conspire to declare Ghasiram a thief. Humiliated Ghasiram takes the vow of revenge and uses his beautiful daughter to secure the office of Kotwal.
As a Kotwal Ghasiram turns into a tyrant for his foes, who are the Brahmins of Puna. In the meantime, Lalita Gauri who had been seduced by Nana dies in tragic circumstances. Nana remarries 7th time and his new wife is but 12 years old. Ghasiram’s burning desire to take revenge crosses all limits. Brahmins raise the banner of revolt against the Kotwal. Now Nana also wants to get rid of Ghasiram. After the cold-blooded killing of Ghasiram, Nana delivers a highly charged speech.
As a Kotwal Ghasiram turns into a tyrant for his foes, who are the Brahmins of Puna. In the meantime, Lalita Gauri who had been seduced by Nana dies in tragic circumstances. Nana remarries 7th time and his new wife is but 12 years old. Ghasiram’s burning desire to take revenge crosses all limits. Brahmins raise the banner of revolt against the Kotwal. Now Nana also wants to get rid of Ghasiram. After the cold-blooded killing of Ghasiram, Nana delivers a highly charged speech.
Cast:
Deep Kumar, Raju Roy, Rajib kalita, Vivek Emmaneni,
and others.
Director: Rajinder Nath
Language: Hindi
Duration: 2 Hrs
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Group:
NSD Repertory Co. New Delhi
